First winter with chickens - egg laying drop off

[beany_bot]

Just a comment really. This is my first winter with chickens. I knew egg production lessened in winter but this is quite the drop off!

From 3 egg laying hens (also have 3 pullets). I'm getting MAYBE 1 egg every 4 or 5 days

In summer I was pretty much 1 a day. Not really complaining. It is what it is. Just a bigger drop off than I expected.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

You're doing good! I have 15 "laying" hens and I'm getting 1 to 3 eggs a day. About half of these girls are going through a very hard molt. Witness:

 

[beany_bot]

You would *think that they would moult Sep/Oct to be ready for winter - Not IN winter when it's already freezing temps. But that's what mine are doing too!

 

[Callender Girl]

I THOUGHT everyone had finished molting, but at least two of my girls are still at it. They've probably been as confused by recent unseasonably warm weather as some of my trees that are producing buds. A little over a week ago, one of my irises had blooms.

The molting girls are about to get a shock. Today, it's going to be 50 degrees; in less than a week, it's predicted to be in the single digits. Crazy weather!

And, egg production, which can be as high as 14 a day in summer, now ranges from three to none.