Winter is here, Is your egg count going down or up ??? How much ??

[technodoll]

We've been getting between 5 to 7 eggs per day the past few weeks (out of 10 mature girls, I think they are all laying but not sure).

The weather has been horrid (cold, snow, endless rain, hardly any sun the past month) so the timer light has been on in the coop as of 4:30am for a while...

Today was horrible: discovered a flock-wide lice infestation and had to delouse the gang, I don't know if this will increase or decrease their egg-laying now...

 

[hcammack]

I am getting a big fat ZERO eggs! Out of 16 hens

THey are all molting and my three Ameraucana are just reaching POL.

Henry

 

[CentralKYRedneck]

Very few eggs right now. Only my mixed hens and some of my banties are laying my red stars are apparently taking a break. Its an unusually cold and wet fall here in KY.

 

[Chickie'sMoma]

UP!!!!

i'm finally getting eggs from my young girls! since friday the 16th i've have 5 eggs laid and i should be getting another tomorrow!

 

[spartacus_63]

Still 8/8

 

[LynneP]

We dropped off slightly for a month during a slow moult to about 8 a day from 12 golden comets , back up to 10-12. Light is back on for the winter and I'm keeping wild bird suet in the coop at all times to keep their body temp us and to give a nice gloss to the new feathers...

 

[lauralou]

I have 13 hens. Most are molting, 3 are broody with babies. I am only getting eggs from my 2 sexlinks and my 2 Welsummer pullets who just started laying. The sexlinks are gearing down, and I don't expect them to continue laying for much longer.

Good thing I have been saving eggs for a while. I hate grocery store eggs!

 

[isabrownmom]

Gritsar,

Yes, this is their first winter. I got them as pullets in June. They have lost a few feathers this fall but not nearly enough to call it a molt; not from what I read on BYC. Do they not molt their first winter??

 

[crazyhen]

I have 4 out of my 9 that are not laying. Molting and really bad for one. The others are laying their usual amt. The first year you usually do not have a heavy molt. It comes about at 1 and 1/2 years . having different ages helps to keep some eggs going through winter. The hybrids are bred to lay and lay they do. I always keep afew for that reason. But I love my orps. Big shiny girls. Gloria Jean

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
They will renew their feathers several times as youngsters, but you don't usually notice it on the birds themselves; just lots of feathers in the coop or brooder.
They normally go thru their first full-blown molt (think naked chickens) around 18 months old.
It's not unusual for hens in their first season - hatched in the spring/early summer - of egglaying to not slow down for their first winter. You'll likely notice more of a slow down their second winter.