No eggs 'til Spring?

[navasima]

So - My goobers are molting like crazy and they are outside where, of course, the temp. has dropped. Am I right to resign myself to having no eggs until Spring when the temp. goes up a bit? BTW - How long does Cot molting last? It looks like they've been having pillow fights in there!! Shouldn't they get some new warm feathers in before real Winter?

Note: All the goobers are eating and pooping well and acting quite normal (normal = goobery

), so I'm rather sure that this is just a side effect of WInter setting in......

 

[TwoCrows]

Yeah, spring time is it! It is not only the temp, but the shortening of the day light. So, here we all are....waiting. You can add artificial lighting to their cages, turning on a light early morning and late evening so that they have 14 - 16 hours of light. I like to allow them some time off from laying however, but if you just can't wait, this is an option.

 

[navasima]

Oh Shoot - I can wait.

Just being a nervous newbie.....

One of my Silkie hens decided to start laying today ( hen, but new to me ), so that'll keep me for a bit!

 

[TwoCrows]

Quote:
Congrats on the first egg!! I was so egg-cited when my chickens started laying this year. I am a new chicken mom this year and seeing that first egg was so thrilling!! Congrats!!

 

[Terri O]

Nav--mine are laying like crazy birds! I think what I will do it get enough to incubate and then turn the lights off so they can rest a bit. My origional breeding flock quit laying while they were outside and now are laying again because I brought them inside for the winter. I couldnt stand looking at them shivering!!! Terri O

 

[navasima]

twocrows - I'm new to chikens, quail and NM!

Something new every 5 minutes or so around here.

Terri O - I actually do go and cover them up at night. Shhhh - don't tell - everyone will think I'm a big softie. I considered bringing them in, but I have 6 -4 week old chicks inside and DH would probably cough up his spleen at another inside cage!

 

[7L Farm]

Birds do better in the winter than the summer. They wear a down jacket they just don't like the wind blowing on them either do I.

 

[Sojourner2]

Would the lack of a Rooster be my hen's problem? They lost the boy about 5 months ago and I have not been able to find a replacement - so I will be raising some new in the spring. My hens layed eggs all through last winter but this year - nothing!

 

[TwoCrows]

There is no need for a male to be present for quail or chickens to lay eggs. They lay because they are born with a certain amount of eggs and lay them when conditions are right internally and externally.

 

[chickbird]

i think the light length is important, mine mine seem to respond to warmth, i think they need to have temps that are comfortable to really lay good,