Get my hens laying

[Hen farmer 123]

Hi I have 60 hens about 40 are just over pol and the rest are a year and we are getting 6 eggs .we uster get 60 eggs a day we are in November now and they are on payers pellets and in the after noon They get a hand full of corn I let them out at 7:00 am and they go to bed at 5:00/6:00 pm :/ :/ help please

 

[All Henned Up]

To force laying during cold short days you will have to use lighting they need 16 hours daylight to be productive. When using lights employ a timer and have it come on in the morning and let the setting sun trigger them to roost. That way the light does not turn off while they are milling about and the cant find roost in the dark. All hens stop or slow down in short daylight cycle. In freezing temps egg collection is almost an hourly job so they don't freeze, most backyard chicken keepers just let nature take it's course and when the days start to get longer and warmer they will give you an abundance of eggs.
Welcome and enjoy BYC
Steve.

 

[1muttsfan]

Hi and welcome to BYC from northern Michigan

Having a light come on in the coop around 4 am should help increase your egg production. You can learn more about lighting by looking through the Raising Backyard Chickens section of the Forum.

 

[chickenboy190]

Welcome! Glad you joined BYC! :~D

 

[drumstick diva]

 

[sumi]

Welcome to BYC

Shorter day length = fewer egg unfortunately.

 

[Kelsie2290]

Hello and Welcome to BYC! What everybody else said, shorter daylight hours means fewer eggs if you don't supplement the light. With that many pol pullets you might want to double check that something isn't eating/ stealing/ hiding eggs also.

 

[roostersandhens]

 

[liz9910]

Welcome to BYC! https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/423023/why-arent-my-chickens-laying-here-are-your-answers