EE's and cold weather egg laying....

[JodyJo]

I am about to purchase 10 EE pullets, 90% guaranteed I should say, who will they do this winter in a Colorado winter, -20's at times...as far as egg laying goes? I have heard from a friend here they don't do well....advice? Experience with these?

 

[foxinachickenhouse]

Mine shut off all winter. I hear it's common.

 

[Chick_In_The_Burbs]

Mine started laying in early Jan. They have been averaging 5-6 eggs each per week. Not sure how they'll do next winter but this time through they have been awesome!

Add: No extra light was provided. I was ready to add it but I never saw a slow down.

 

[clairabean]

I am in BC. No difference really in winter months for us. We have a light in the coop.

 

[schellie69]

It depends on the hens and if you use extra light. All my hens took this last winter off which was fine with me since it seems to help with not having egg laying issues.

 

[annep]

I only have one EE who's not started to lay yet, but my RIR's did well in the winter here, laid right through if we put light on them, and my sis used to have some EE's and they did well too. We are in Co. too

 

[SunnyDawn]

The small pea comb of EEs means they are less prone to frost bite. Good choice for cold weather. It gets below zero where we are but we put a light in above the water to keep it from freezing (still freezes sometimes though) and my EEs do slow down laying in winter but all my girls do.

The light does help keep a few eggs coming all through winter just not as many. EEs often start laying much later than other production breeds but the pretty eggs are worth the wait.

 

[briteday]

My EE's typically don't lay any eggs from Nov-Feb, even with added light. It's nice to have them in the flock for the pretty eggs. But they are not efficient producers of eggs. In fact, they are almost always some of my largest hens that eat the most and produce the least.

 

[emsdial911]

Indiana here and mine lay all winter long. I don't use any extra light but I do have an insulated coop which stays around 20 to 30 deg.