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how to keep eggs from freezing in nesting box!?

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Well I have twelve hens,4 buff orpingtons 1 amauricana 1 red star, and six barred rocks. I had two eggs on the floor, and 4 in the boxes. 1 cracked but all the rest were good. Pretty good day, I got my first egg last week or so so I think they are still figuring it out. Thanks for all the good tips everyone. Tomorrow I'm going to put two golf balls in each box with some straw. I have pine shavings in them now.
 
im also in michigan i use a red heat lamp over the water it doesnt help the coop much but i did move that set up as close to the nest box they use as ii could, the eggs are really cold but so far not frozen, good luck,
 
cluckey said:
Does anyone have any suggestions on how to keep eggs from freezing in winter. I live in Wisconsin and we have temps below freezing right now. My chickens just started laYing this week but by the time I get home from work some of the eggs in the nesting boxes are frozen and cracked. Has anyone had any luck keeping the nesting boxes warm enough in winter?
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I know this is off the subject, but I live in Wisconsin too and am waiting on my chickens to start laying. I figured there was no way they would start in these temperatures!! What kind of chickens do you have and how old are they? I am so anxious for my first egg!! My nesting boxes and coop are insulated and right now it's been consistently 10 degrees warmer in the coop then outside. I too can't check for eggs until after work so I'm hoping the insulation gives me a little more time before the eggs freeze!! (assuming I get eggs any time soon)!!!
 
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?
 
Cluckey I have seven 20 week olds (RIR's, BO's, BR's) and four 14 week olds (2 BO's and 2 BR's). I'm not opposed to supplemental light but wanted to let them mature naturally their first year. So I too have been told not to expect eggs until spring. My older ladies are getting extremely red faces and wattles and are also getting really loud. I'm hoping that means I'm close to getting eggs...but I'm trying to be patient!! I have golf balls in the nesting boxes now but I'll switch them out with ceramic eggs. Can't hurt and gives me something to do besides count the days until my first egg!! Keeping the cracked eggs to feed back to the chickens is a great idea....I'll have to keep that in mind when I finally get some.
yippiechickie.gif


Where are you at in Wisconsin? I'm in the Sheboygan area.
 
Leanna, It sounds like your ladies will lay soon! Hopefully you have good luck like I did! I did not put any supplemental light in my coop either. I figured I'd see how they do this winter on their own as well. I've read that the hens do this submissive squat when you pet them if they are ready to lay. I have two that started doing that when i pet them, their little wings pop up off their back and their tails go down. So maybe look for that sign too. I'm am opposite end of WI from you. I have a farm out in New Glarus!

RonP
"This is the first year I'm using this.
So far, excellent results, but it hasn't gotten cold enough to reach it's limitations."

It is in the negative temps here at night and only single digits if we are lucky during the day. Its FREEZING HERE! Hopefully this mat idea will help take the edge off and allow me to keep some eggs!
 

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