Too Much Snow???? Our first winter with hens...

[7cutechix]

I have 6 red sex links who were laying mostly 5 eggs a day all winter (sometimes 3, sometimes 6) UNTIL the storm of the century.....Today...NO eggs. If they lay every 26 hours or so, how can they just shut down and not lay! They were in coop all day yesterday, we had fierce wind, they only have a small amount of light in there. Is it the light? The snow? They can really just shut down a biological function because they don't like snow???? How many days does it take to go back to normal? They were out in the run today.....

 

[Uzuri]

You may have just had the bad luck of every reaching their "off" day on the same day -- it happens! And the dark wouldn't help any; they seem to be able to "hold it" while they're sleeping, and they sleep when it's dark. If I had half the bladder control that my hens have egg-laying control, I'd be able to make 12-hour drives without stopping at roadside rests

 

[Bullwinkle]

On some of the rougher days we have had in December/January when my hens couldn't get outside, they also laid less than when they are able to get outside. I think it is related to the amount of light they are receiving. I have seen the same thing happen when we have had really cloudy, dark days... less eggs. Once things clear up though and they can get the light, they go back to laying with no problems.

 

[7cutechix]

Thanks! I found a HIDING PLACE! I gave them a talking to and blocked up the places they were getting around the straw bales I had in there for insulation. Today there were 5! So glad I learn from everyone's stories. I'll know what I'm doing someday!

 

[Hangin Wit My Peeps]

Good to hear you found the hiding place

You may also want to up their light they get or they may slow down with the laying after time. I know if I don't have the lights on from 7am to 8pm mine slowdown A LOT in the winter. Good luck

I love my sex link, she lays almost every day as well and she's TWO already and still lays that often