Lean days and plentiful days

I'm not sure, but I think sometimes, their egg cycle gets off by a day. Ever notice how they lay at slightly different times...later each day (mine do) and they take a day off every now and then. I think they instinctively know what to do. My bantam isn't laying right now and I'm thinking for her that is probably a good thing. She needs all her energy to go into keeping herself warm...not laying eggs right now.

 

I write down the number of eggs I get a day on the calander and yes there seems to be times when you wonder where all the eggs went.

 

I've read it takes 26 hours for an egg to make it's way out the chute. That's why the time moves up gradually.

 

I think it's normal, especially in the winter. My hens are all over the board. One thing I noticed is that a couple of days after single digit temps, they stop laying. It's like the really cold weather hits and their bodies shut down the process but they still have to get rid of what's in there already so they lay for another day or two then stop. Then, when it warms up again, they start to lay.

I just don't count on consistency until mid-spring or so.