I feel your pain Leanna. I was told over and over that mine probably wouldnt lay this winter without supplemental light. I was thrilled New Years Day when I found an egg! Last week my chickens were 20 weeks and 18 weeks old. The 20 week ones are Production Reds, a Cornish X and two random Easter Egger look a like chickens (nobody seems to know what breed they are). The 18 week ones are Buff Orphingtons, Barred Rocks, Weslummer and a Golden Laced Wyandotte. I'm 90% sure that the ones laying are my older ones. The Easter Egger look a like ones' combs/waddles started turning really red a few weeks ago. And in the morning when I check on them she's the first one up and there was an egg in the box already. The Barred Rocks are really red right now too so maybe they are laying. But i feel like the younger ones most likely arent laying right now and its the older ones. I had put a golf ball in the nesting box to encourage them to lay and i got nothing, i put those fake ceramic eggs (can get at farm and fleet) in the boxes and two days later I had a real egg. Dont know if that had anything to do with encouraging them or not but it can't hurt. The first few eggs were very strong and average egg size, the last two days, the eggs have been very thin shelled and smaller. Today I didnt get any eggs. I'm hoping they keep laying and this wasn't just a one time thing! I'm ok with the frozen egg as long as it doesnt crack, I just put it in my refridgerator and will use them this week. The ones that cracked, i put in my freezer and will cook them up this weekend and feed to my hens as a treat. Its been so so so cold here but my coop is not insulated and does seem to be way warmer than outside. I'm still trying to find good ideas to keep the eggs from freezing. Hopefully we can get some more suggestions on here! Hopefully you get some eggs soon!! how old are yours and what breeds do you have?
