Egg production, dropping *big* time!

[Judy]

This is simply the time of year they slow down, though other factors, already mentioned, can be involved, particularly a new coop and a partial molt (are there more feathers lying around than usual?) If they are healthy and not stressed, about all that can be done is adding light to extend their day to 14 hours (probably best added early AM so they still see it getting dark naturally and go to roost.)

Age is also a factor, of course. I have a small flock who were about 9 months old this time last year. They laid all winter just as well as the rest of the year. This year the same chickens are laying about 1/3 of what they laid last year. I had a red heat lamp on at times but did not add any other light.

 

[TheChad]

Don't feel bad. For the past week we have had no sunshine and my eggs dropped from 14 to 4. Thank god warmer weather is coming back next week.

 

[marymac]

i think we always find excuses for our chickens . In the summer it is too hot, in winter it is too cold, not enough daylight, they are always stressed about something. i have 11 hens, and would LOVE to get 11 eggs just one time!! I have had chickens for over a year now and that has never happened yet! Or maybe they aren't getting enough protein or maybe this or maybe that. Might as well face it, they are chickens and will lay whenever they feel like it. I just wish I had more eggs than I know what to do with, but that would mean I need more chickens, right? Gotta draw the line somewhere. I hate to admit it, but I just bought 2 doz duck eggs to eat for 2.00 a doz. Nice BIG DUCK EGGS!!

 

[Eggzactly]

I have 25 layers getiing between 3 and 8 eggs

 

[alwayswantedchicks]

My girls are still laying pretty good, one sitting, 20 free ranging and I'm getting 14-18 each day. I use a light in the evening for a couple of hours after dark and then an hour or so in the morning before daylight. Talked to an oldtimer chicken owner yesterday who said that if chickens drink really cold water they will stop laying. Also that if a chicken drinks icy water she may never lay eggs again. I had never heard that before but I don't want to take the chance so I emptied the waterers this morning and put 'room' temp water in them. Has anyone heard of this?

 

[KMHunter]

Quote:
My girls drink warm water cold water, and this summer I added ice to the water to keep it cool in the heat. I haven't heard about the water affecting laying. Mine are doing fine so far. I wouldn't worry about it. I have heard a lot if things from "oldtimers" and most of the "wrong" things I had already been doing. I just got three this morning from my three that are laying.