winter question

[tuesdays chicks]

what is the reason chickens lay less or stop laying in winter, I know they say less daylight hours, but is it less daylight hours so they dont eat as much, and need to conserve their energy and body fat for the cold and keep the proteins for themselves? and if this is the reason do chickens in warmer regions lay longer then chickens in colder areas? does anyone know the reasons?

 

[Ridgerunner]

Diferent reasons, some of which you mentioned. I think the big one is that they usually molt when the days get shorter and they stop or tremendously cut back laying when they molt. A molt can last anywhere from 2 to 6 months.

 

[tuesdays chicks]

oh thanks, I guess it would be better for them to molt in a slow season of laying anyway, wouldn't want them to molt after they just started laying good in spring