Should I stock pile eggs?

[WILIFORD]

In regards to artificial lighting for my flock.

I understand some may feel it better to give their hens a rest during the shorter days of the year and we should all do what we are comfortable with.

Here are my thoughts on why I feel comfortable with artificial lighting for my flock.

Firstly, the reason egg production drops during the short days has to due with stimulation of the pituitary, which is stimulated by light. Be it natural, or artificial light. Kind of make you wonder how Alaskan chickens cope with 2 straight months of daylight. So during the shorter days of the year the pituitary gland which contributes to the ovulation, is not stimulated to the degree it would be, say during the summer months.

Secondly I would never advocate supplying artificial light that would exceed 12 hours of total light between natural and artificial light. Bear in mind, that leaves your flock a 12 hour rest period per day. Life should be so rough.

Thirdly, molting is a natural process that is physically taxing on our hens. I don't believe having only 12 hours as opposed to 15 hours of rest per day, is going to have much effect on this natural process that they must go thru. Otherwise we could keep them in complete darkness and expedite the whole molting process

I know what I am saying, most of us already know, but if it helps 2 or 3 others in their decision making, then great.

Again, I am not trying to be argumentative, we all have to do what we feel comfortable. I'm comfortable with my flock only getting 12 hours of sleep per day.

 

[aart]

I'm comfortable with my flock only getting 12 hours of sleep per day.

I use lights too, so I am not opposed..
.....but it's not the 'lack of sleep' that can wear them out,
it's the continuous production that can be rough on their bodies.

 

[Fairview01]

Firstly, the reason egg production drops during the short days has to due with stimulation of the pituitary, which is stimulated by light. Be it natural, or artificial light. Kind of make you wonder how Alaskan chickens cope with 2 straight months of daylight. So during the shorter days of the year the pituitary gland which contributes to the ovulation, is not stimulated to the degree it would be, say during the summer months.

Secondly I would never advocate supplying artificial light that would exceed 12 hours of total light between natural and artificial light. Bear in mind, that leaves your flock a 12 hour rest period per day. Life should be so rough.

Thirdly, molting is a natural process that is physically taxing on our hens. I don't believe having only 12 hours as opposed to 15 hours of rest per day, is going to have much effect on this natural process that they must go thru. Otherwise we could keep them in complete darkness and expedite the whole molting process

I know what I am saying, most of us already know, but if it helps 2 or 3 others in their decision making, then great.

Based on many of the comments about extended lighting and how excesses can cause behavioral problems there must be a lot of crazy chickens in Alaska or a lot of chicken therapists.

But you are spot on on the pituitary gland involvement. I have read that for another egg to be released and sent down the pike the eye must be exposed to 2 hours of daylight after the previous egg has been laid which is why fewer and fewer eggs are laid coming into fall and thru winter which is why their molt is associated with the decreasing day hours.

If molt was photoperiod dependent then every chicken would molt in fall despite when hatched however chicks hatched in April May timeframe will lay quite well right now with extended lighting without molting. Because of the timing of the hatch they most likely go into molt until late spring. The only way I know to force a molt at a time other than when the chickens reproductive system sets it up is through severe dietary restriction.

They will go into molt when they need to irrespective of photoperiod.

 

[Fairview01]

I use lights too, so I am not opposed..
.....but it's not the 'lack of sleep' that can wear them out,
it's the continuous production that can be rough on their bodies.

Chickens are livestock. The purpose of my chickens is to provide eggs. Letting them rest longer than necessary to resume production is financially wasteful. If I'm not willing to cull the birds that are not producing adequately I can not complain about a decrease in egg production. Keeping an old hen beyond her productive years is throwing good money after bad on the feed bill.

 

[aart]

I use lights too, so I am not opposed..
.....but it's not the 'lack of sleep' that can wear them out,
it's the continuous production that can be rough on their bodies.

Chickens are livestock. The purpose of my chickens is to provide eggs. Letting them rest longer than necessary to resume production is financially wasteful. If I'm not willing to cull the birds that are not producing adequately I can not complain about a decrease in egg production. Keeping an old hen beyond her productive years is throwing good money after bad on the feed bill.

Didya read the bolded part of my post?!
Was just pointing out that it wasn't 'lack of sleep'.

 

[Chichi_08]

The easiest way around this storage is staggered hatches and 4 hours of extended lighting in the fall and winter.

Figure out how long it takes your breed to start laying and add 4 weeks and count backwards from the beginning of September. The pullets will complete their juvenile molts and will be wanting to lay like gang busters in fall and going through winter and with 4 hours of extended lighting you'll have eggs all winter.

When they start laying in the fall I start another batch to grow out through the winter and they will get down to business when the older ones start going into molt in spring.

Having fresh eggs in the winter is only a matter of timing .

I have yet to buy eggs since May although someone does cause she hates having to contend with peeling super fresh hard boiled eggs.

That’s a great tip for next year! Thanks.

 

[Chichi_08]

If you just want to store eggs cold but are avoiding the dehydrating effect of a fridge, why not store them in a moderately sized plastic storage tub in an unheated garage, cellar or back porch where the temperature never gets too high? Or are you so far north that would be the same as a freezer?

I’m in Ontario, Canada so freezing eggs is a strong possibility if I leave them outside.

 

[Fairview01]

Didya read the bolded part of my post?!
Was just pointing out that it wasn't 'lack of sleep'.

We see a lot of stuff in the same light.

My point was if the small flock owner isn't willing to use proper animal husbandry practices, doesn't even understand the environmental factors responsible for the increase/decrease in seasonal egg production, see chickens as pets or family members, and aren't willing to cull hens that are no longer productive, complaining of not getting enough eggs falls on my deaf ears.

If having high productive egg laying rates is important the flock owner will make the right decisions. If they are just talking the talk they will humanize their chickens and create excuses for them.

But that is way off the OPs original post.

 

[gimmie birdies]

If you are doing alot of baking, just use store eggs, you will not taste them, fresh eggs are best for eggs you will eat for breakfast!

 

[ChocolateMouse]

Personally, I just eat eggs seasonally. Winter is not a time for strong egg production/consumption any more than it's time to eat lots of fresh tomatoes. A good option that works well for me with no additional lighting is to try to have a couple pullets each year that will lay through the winter, but even if I get eggs in the winter they often freeze and crack and ooze within an hour during our coldest months (jan-feb) and I'm not willing to check for eggs hourly in 10*F, so frequently eggs are just seasonal for me.
I mean, you can put chickens under artificial lights, and you can grow tomatoes indoors as well, but I don't do either.
I do can my tomatoes though, so if you wanna store eggs, just do the math. Count how many eggs you get in a week and how many eggs you want to eat over the winter and then calculate backwards how many spare eggs you'd need to save each week to meet that goal. I second unwashed in the fridge, as long as they're layed in a (relatively) clean environment.