Winter drop in egg production - Who says?

Sounds like you are doing fine.

Laying decreases in the winter for two reasons, basically. It's cold and the hen uses the calories for heat and her instincts say "this isn't the weather I want to re-produce in". Good to remember that chicken lay for their own instinct to re-produce, not for us. We just benefit.

Second, the low light, short days of winter signal them to slow down, conserve energy and wait, wait til spring.

Of course, a caged hen, in an egg factory, with lights left on 24/7 notices none of this.

 

some breeds are good winter layers you ave them lol Some breeds will slow or completely stop in winter.

 

my banty stopped laying this winter =- but my red sexlinks are laying like crazy... got 2 older australorps that lay every once in awhile - due to their age I dont expect much - just enjoy em when i get em

 

My sex links and leg horns are laying like crazy. I've been averaging a dozen a day. I even have a couple of ducks still laying even though I was specifically told ducks do not lay in winter.

 

Our egg production hasn't slowed much, if at all. I did add a light in the coop though. Also, I have pullets just getting to the right age to start laying. I think I have 7 total that are old enough, and we get anywhere from 3 to 5 eggs per day. I have 4 Delawares that should be starting any time.

I actually gave away a dozen eggs yesterday because I was falling behind in eating them since I started watching my calories and cholesterol.

 

I have 3 Domineckers(sp?) 5 white leghorns and 4 hybrids that are from an EE Roo and one of the Domineckers and I am averaging 9-10 eggs a day.

 

We have 3 RIRs, 3 BOs, 3 BRs, and 2 EEs, hatched in late July. We were told not only that winter was a slow laying time, but that pullets coming of age in the winter would likely delay satrting to lay. Maybe the EEs and the BOs read that book, but the other 6 did not. They've been laying for just barely a month at a 2-4 egg per day pace. Today we broke our record and got 5! Wheee!

 

wOW!! sounds like you are doing Very good!

 

Quote:Well it's not surprising since you have "production" birds. I've never heard of the "Frey's Dual Purpose" is that a new breed? Have you got pictures?

One thing about production birds is that they lay very well for a shorter period of time. Where as Heritage purebreds lay over a longer period of time and things equal out. And of course you won't be able to eat your production birds when they pass their short laying season. Usually two years.

My Delawares laid two the other day so large I had to tape the carton closed and they are going on three. Lets see you "hybrids" do that after two years.

Enjoy the winter

Rancher