So many winter eggs, is this normal?

[Wildheartsfarm]

I'm new to chicken keeping, this is my first winter. I also live in Maine and winters here are long, cold, and snowy. And dark. So I was really not expecting any eggs until March, but my chickens started laying again in December! Sporadically at first, but now it's mid-January and I am getting almost two dozen eggs a week from five hens. Is this normal?!

They have a run which they barely use because of all the snow, but their (uninsulated) coop is pretty big with lots of windows and skylights to get them natural light during the short days. (It is under a tree so in the summer it is fully shaded. I put those opaque PVC plastic panels on the roof for skylights and cover the hardware cloth windows with plastic in winter to keep out snow.)

 

[50-45-1]

I'm in Michigan, and similar weather conditions as you.
I have increased from 1-2 egg a day to average of 6-7 now.
My girls slowed in October due to molt. Like you was not expecting much until March.
In winter many of my egg customers have to resort to store eggs or from other sources. Many have horror stories about those expierences.
They are happy I am still able to supply them with mine.

 

[FrostRanger]

Some birds will start up late winter (especially younger birds) and some will wait until spring is in full swing. Both are perfectly fine, they're going to do whatever they're going to do. Enjoy it but know they won't necessarily start up this early as they get older nor will future birds start this early. They very well might but they also might not

 

[debid]

Youthful vigor. Enjoy!
I had a similar experience to yours but the second winter was very different from the first. I installed supplemental lighting at that point.