My Amazing Hens!

[ChicKittyHouse]

I live in central Arkansas where winters are usually very mild. Low 50 highs and high 30 lows, so I was really surprised that my hens were laying fairly well for winter. I have 20 layers and many breeds. However, Sunday night it began to snow and snow and snow! Over a foot for sure the the low temp was 0. I had to let my chickens have the garage, as the coop was too small to house 23 for a week. Plus I'm in a w/c so it made things easier for me. Today the woman who works for me was finally able to make it to my house. She went to see if there were any eggs and I was doubtful that there would be many because the first 2 days they were stressed and terrified of the white stuff. I nearly fell out of my w/c when she came back in the house with 75 eggs!! Plus 2 hens were sitting on eggs! I'm sure most if not all of them have been frozen, so I definitely can't sell those. But I think my girls should get some nice omelets with lots of veggies. Now if they could just clean the garage....

 

[cluckmecoop7]

Nice! One of my flocks just started laying again yesterday, and the other flock has been laying all winter! Although not very many eggs. Congrats on 75!

 

[Chookchicken]

Congratulations on the eggs. Meanwhile here in the Southern Hemisphere it’s summer (obviously). I get and average of 1-2 eggs a day, that’s out of 9 hens. My girls are just freeloaders.

 

[ChicKittyHouse]

Would you like for my girls to have a chat with yours? A little pep talk!

 

[ScratchNbawk]

That’s a lot. I hope I’ll get some winter eggs this year when my girls aren’t pullets anymore.

 

[cluckmecoop7]

It's actually my pullets that are laying all winter, the hens took a LONG break!

 

[Dearjenni94]

Think being in the garage helped?

 

[ChicKittyHouse]

I do. I have the water about 3 ft. from the door into the laundry room and the water didn't freeze. Sometimes when I would look into the garage they would all be huddled up against the door! I felt really bad for them as this cold was totally unexpected and worse than we have ever had so they weren't conditioned for it. But I felt heat was too dangerous and I draw the line at 23 chickens in the house! If they would just learn to use a litter box!!