Winter Egglaying

[gardenrue7]

Hello!

This is our first year with chickens, and all of our hens are 6 months old. They all have been laying daily or every other day since October.

However, as of today, our Olive Egger hasn’t laid in a week. She’s walking normally, eating and drinking, and I’ve felt her stomach. She’s very healthy. It did snow for the first time this week and we wrapped their run to keep the wind out.

Has she just stopped laying for the winter? If so, should we not be feeding her layer pellets until she starts laying again?

Thank you so much for your wisdom!

 

[GodLovesU]

Chickens do usually stop (or slow down) laying in winter.It’s not a health concern.You could stop feeding laying pellets,but I feed them those all through winter.

 

[OrpingtonManiac]

Chickens do stop laying during the winter (mostly), due to the shorter daylight hours.
You can carry on feeding layer pellets.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Or you can switch to an all-flock formula which does not have added calcium. They don't need it while they are not forming eggs. I never feed layer as I have a mixed flock including a rooster and calcium would be hard on his kidneys. I also have non-laying pullets and older, retired hens, and at the moment some in molt. I always have a feeder full of oyster shell for those who need it, they will help themselves.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Even pullets can slow or stop laying during winter due to shortened daylight hours (2 of 4 of mine have stopped). You can continue to use layer if you wish, as her downtime will likely be more minimal than a mature hen's, or mix with/switch to a lower calcium feed during that time span with calcium supplemented on the side for any still laying.

 

[FrostRanger]

I second switching to all flock, it keeps things simpler

 

[Cheryli]

Hello!

This is our first year with chickens, and all of our hens are 6 months old. They all have been laying daily or every other day since October.

However, as of today, our Olive Egger hasn’t laid in a week. She’s walking normally, eating and drinking, and I’ve felt her stomach. She’s very healthy. It did snow for the first time this week and we wrapped their run to keep the wind out.

Has she just stopped laying for the winter? If so, should we not be feeding her layer pellets until she starts laying again?

Thank you so much for your wisdom!

I would keep feeding her layer feed. Are you supplementing their food? We give our 7 birds 1/2 cup dried meal worms every day. Also they love milet seed and corn from our local feed store. I only give them corn every other day. Hopefully your Olive Egger starts laying soon. Also, oyster shell and grit is great for chickens. We let the chickens peck at it throughout the day.

 

[Mrs. K]

As the day length swings to longer days, I don't think she will be out of lay long.

 

[5Australorpasaures]

Last winter our BLK AUS laid all winter, this yr being quite a bit colder they're taking some time off. For three wks they stopped. A few days ago we did get one egg and now are getting two with two more to start up. Temperature is a little milder and the days are a getting longer. I don't get all that concerned, it's just the natural cycle of the chicken clock. Our birds a going into their 2nd yr. I agree with Mrs K.