Will they still lay?

[Firsttimehens1234]

I have 3 hens who have finally started laying again after their winter break, for the last 20 days it have been raining but not cold only around 50 degrees. But now it’s snowing and it’s around 20 degrees,will they still lay or stop again?

 

[fluffycrow]

It depends, since they've already had a break, as long as the light hours continue to increase, they may continue to lay. If light hours and temperature drops even more, they might stop

 

[Mrs. K]

It really is not about temperature - it is all about light and how long the light is present. If they are laying - they generally keep laying, but may skip a day in between, just because they are just getting started, not because of the temperature.

 

[fluffycrow]

It really is not about temperature - it is all about light and how long the light is present. If they are laying - they generally keep laying, but may skip a day in between, just because they are just getting started, not because of the temperature.

I don't disagree. I didn't focus on temperature because it truly doesn't matter that much, what I will say is that it's not completely irrelevant, as light and temperature indicate change of season. While light is really the important factor here, we can't forget that temperature plays a small factor as well, for example in some areas where it can get pretty hot during mid summer, the birds stop laying, or lay less than in early and late summer, when light hours are starting to decrease. But obviously, light is the main reason hens start/stop laying!

 

[Mrs. K]

You have a valid point about the heat. In SD this time of year when you are talking about temperatures - you are talking cold - that was where my mind was. I don't think the cold bothers chickens near as much as extreme heat.

 

[fluffycrow]

You have a valid point about the heat. In SD this time of year when you are talking about temperatures - you are talking cold - that was where my mind was. I don't think the cold bothers chickens near as much as extreme heat.

Agreed. The majority of chickens probably don't get affected by cold that much, unless it's extreme cold. Although obviously, some breeds differ

 

[ChicFil- A]

I have 3 hens who have finally started laying again after their winter break, for the last 20 days it have been raining but not cold only around 50 degrees. But now it’s snowing and it’s around 20 degrees,will they still lay or stop again?

They will start laying again, It’s the days shortening and low light, suddenly they will lay again.