Lights, Winter and egg laying

[speckledhen]

Quote:
By heavy producing do you mean like leghorns or a commercial type bird?

Well, actually, all the usual common breeds the hatcheries sell-RIRs, Orps, Wyandottes, Sexlinks, etc. They cull out broodiness in the breeders so the progeny will lay an egg every day of their lives, or close to it. They dont break to raise chicks and some dont even stop laying completely when they molt, like mine. Lost two RIRs, two SLWs and am about to lose one BR. All were heavy producers till their bodies turned on them.

 

[UP_Chicken_Lover]

Hi roosmom - first time with chickens - ever. Whether this year or before. I know the chickens can see red tomatoe - etc. Although that seems to have been an acquired thing. Just recently going after the red tomatoes - prior to this they just ran over to see what I put in and then walked away.

I'm near Houghton - a bit further north than you and it's colder on the western side. My girls are doing great with the lights we have. Their water hasn't froze - and they are now producing a egg a day....

Really happy with the 5 young girls we have. I went with the Black Sex Links because of their hardiness for the cold and how friendly they are. Plus being good layers. So far they are everything I researched about them. Easy birds for a beginner - which I am... lol

 

[chickorama]

We have a white light, and today, on 12/1/08, we got 17 eggs from our twenty birds!! In the middle of the summer, we don't get that much, and egg production is supposed to go down in the winter... it did last year...apparently not this year!!

 

[roosmom]

Speckledhen, I really appreciate the information. Thank you

DigitS', Yes I think mother is right

. I just like knowing they are sleeping when I am.

UP CL....shame on you I know where Houghton is

. I was stranded there once, LOL. Yes it is probably a bit colder than here, the winds are probably atrocious. Nah, my water hasnt froze yet either.

Raizin, I hope you let the chickies get a good nights sleep

.

Good deal chckorama, 17 out of twenty. You dont have the white light on 24/7 do you?

25 eggs today 12-1-08

 

[roosmom]

17 eggs today 12-2-08

 

[roosmom]

14 eggs 12-3-08

26 eggs 12-4-08

 

[Michigan Chickman]

I had 22 from 29 on 12/3 and 18 from 29 yesterday....but boy are they eating a lot of feed!!!

 

[roosmom]

21 eggs 12-5-08

28 eggs 12-6-08

They do eat a lot. I am beginning to believe that a lot of it is out of boredom. Seriously......I have two plastic baggies, you know the kind....that onions come in? Yah those, anyway, I give them fresh vegies and stuff in the baggies hung from the rafters in the run, they pick at it all day long. They also eat less when I do this. Go figure.

 

[digitS']

They would probably burn less calories sitting like dead weight on the roost 3/4 th of their lives.

But, no eggs . . .

I think the quality of their lives is better and more productive with the activities . . . interesting food . . . and games! They may think back on these Winter indoor times fondly when they are laying around in the shade during the Summer months . . . . . . . naaah!!

Steve

 

[RickiHupp]

This is my first winter with chickens and I have had 2 red heat lights in thier coop since mid november. My egg production dropped ALOT so 4 days ago I added a timer with a regular white bulb and it has raised. This is only MY experience so I do think that the white bulb has a better effect than the red