Solstice egg!

SueT

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May 27, 2015
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SW MO
Rocket, my BR hen just coming out of a heavy molt, laid an egg today, on this shortest day of the year! It's actually her second since molting, there was one 2 days ago. I had really been assuming I'd have to wait till spring. Maybe the others will follow suit....
a solsteice egg.jpg
 
If they're all the same age, you should be getting lots of eggs in the next few weeks.
The day length change in relation to length of darkness is the key.
 
Rocket is just charging ahead, isn't she!

Our first ever egg was laid during the solar eclipse a few months ago. Literally during the time span of the eclipse, and we had a second egg that day, too.
 
Three of my four 7-month-old pullets have started laying in the last month, despite the short days. My SS hen molted two months ago and hasn't yet come back into lay, but her comb and wattles have started plumping back up, so hopefully she'll be back in business soon! I also have two 6-month-old pullets who look like they will be joining the party soon. Spring is on the way!
 
This is all quite interesting.
We should remember that it takes about 25 hours to produce an egg. So events like eclipse wouldn't affect ovulation which happens a day before the egg is laid.
Once ovulation occurs, fertilization, addition of thick and thin albumen as well as inner and outer membranes happens before the 21 hours it takes to build the shell. After that, a hen can't help but expel the egg.
Add to that the body changes that take place well before the initial ovulation.
 

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