Egg drop

[Bejep714]

Our chickens have slowed down on eggs in the last couple of weeks and I was wondering if it could be a problem. They are all healthly looking and acting normal, I just want to make sure

 

[coach723]

There are a lot of things that can affect egg laying. Daylight hours, stress, molt, a predator hanging around the coop at night, etc. Where are you located, generally, in the world? If they seem normal otherwise, I wouldn't worry too much. Make sure their droppings look normal, see if anything around the coop is different, that may be bothering them.

 

[Bejep714]

Our chickens hate the snow and we have had a very big winter. They have been Cooped up for almost a month. Their coop is larger, but I know they would rather be outside. They are inside today because it is cold and raining hard, but were out for the first time yesterday. It is supposed to get a lot warmer soon so they will be outside way more often. Do you think that had anything to do with it?

 

[coach723]

It's possible. Is it dark in the coop? If they aren't getting enough daylight hours that will curtail laying. They also could be stressed from being confined. I don't deal with extended low temps like many parts of the country, but the only time mine are truly confined is when a hurricane is imminent with enormous winds. They really do OK in inclement weather as long as they have a place to get out of it if they want to. I would consider letting them out and leaving the coop open so they can go in if they want. Mine often stand outside in pouring rain, or choose to just get under something til it stops. I have sun shades up and they go under those in the rain, but prefer to stay outside.

 

[Bejep714]

Throughout that time we let them out free ranging for a few times since they needed to be outside and we also open the windows since it has chicken wire on it get some fresh air in the coop. They have a big glass window in their coop so sunlight shines through it for a good part of the day. We usually cannot let our chickens out in the run in the wet snowy times because we have all the water run off into the run, and it stays wet and puddly everywhere. We also have less than intelligent birds since they just stand out in the freezing water. One time at the start of winter I went out and one was standing in a huge puddle and her feet were turning a reddish blue so we put them away. Thankfully in a few days they will be outside again and it will get warmer. All let you know if egg production goes up from then. Thank you

 

[coach723]

Hopefully it will. Once it warms up, hopefully you can do something about the drainage in your run, so it won't get so flooded. Long term, that's going to be a problem.