What triggers hens to start laying again? Super cold weather here!

[Grammie Has Chickens]

Thank you, everyone for all of this helpful information. I guess I must be doing a few things right! I know I spoil them ... they are pets more than production birds, LOL!

 

[LeeWren]

My Chicago based hens start laying in mid-January after their molts and temperature doesn't seem to be an issue. It is really cold here right now and they are laying, and laid all through the "Polar Vortex" of several years ago -- I had to scramble to get the eggs before they froze!

 

[MountainWoman73]

The light is the biggest factor, but it doesn't always make sense. I swear I get more eggs on snowy days because they have nothing better to do than sit around in the nests. (This last observation is NOT rooted in science)

 

[Grammie Has Chickens]

My Chicago based hens start laying in mid-January after their molts and temperature doesn't seem to be an issue. It is really cold here right now and they are laying, and laid all through the "Polar Vortex" of several years ago -- I had to scramble to get the eggs before they froze!

Your weather would be very similar to mine (Zone 5). I wish my hens would all lay eggs at the same time. They seem to like to spread out over the whole day, even when they were first laying last fall!

 

[sdm111]

My four young hens stopped laying about a month or so ago, and then, when the temperatures have dropped to -25C, I found an egg in the nest box! And four more in the sandbox (two were frozen / cracked). That was a few days ago and I've been getting 2 eggs a day since. The days are starting to get a bit longer, but are still only a little over 10 hours of daylight and I'm not really adding more than a half hour to that with lighting.

So...what caused them to start laying again? Curious mind would like to know! Also, is it ok / healthy for them to be laying when the weather is so cold? They are only little hens (silkies, silkie/D'uccle cross).

I've been spoiling them with a few 'super worms' I bought at the pet store, and the occasional bit of home grown fodder. Other than that, they have their feed and access to a bowl of oyster shell/grit and a dish of crushed egg shell

Chickens are such interesting creatures! I just want to make sure that I am doing all I can to make sure my little 'Chicklets' are happy and healthy!

Sunlight