Chicken Eggs in Winter

[Cheryli]

I have two 19 month old Isa Browns (Ginger and Penny), one 2 year old Easter Egger (Sweet Pea) and four 8 month old Olive Eggers (Red, Topper, Copper and Purdy Bird). We are having a frigid winter here in Wisconsin. I have been expecting my chickens to slow down laying eggs. To my surprise we have been getting 5 to 6 eggs each day. We got Penny and Ginger at 4s month old. They are daily layers. Sweet Pea has been with us since she was 2 months old. We had an older Olive Egger (Girdy bird) who found our yard and adopted us. She took Sweat Pea und her wing and took care of her. Sweat Pea has been laying an egg every other day. The Olive Eggers who we hah sonse 3 to 4 week old are apparently laying almost daily. I am not complaining by any means but I am shocked my chickens have not slowed down laying their eggs LOL.

 

[Debbie292d]

That's great! Pretty ladies!

Most of our silkies lay all winter in Wisconsin too, but about half as many as usual. We heat the coops to 40F, which I think helps, but that's not why we do it.

 

[Callender Girl]

Congrats on getting unexpected eggs!

Maybe the chickens -- and their egg-making parts -- are finding this year's Midwest winter as confusing as I do with little-to-no snow, lots of much-warmer-than-usual days. I know egg-laying is related to the length of daylight, but I can't help but think these girls believe it's spring. At least, until the predicted cold of this week sets in.

A couple of my girls have were also laying early. One of my Easter Eggers and my Columbian Wyandotte resumed laying, almost daily, in December (That's never happened before!!). Then, Audrey, the EE, stopped. On Sunday, she laid her first egg since Jan. 16.

A few of the other girls and my Rose Comb Brown Leghorn pullet are now also contributing eggs.

BTW, you have a nice-looking mixed flock.

 

[igorsMistress]

I’m not surprised that the youngest are laying. Some will, some won’t it just depends. It does surprise me you’re getting that many eggs since the others are older. My 1+ year olds pretty much never lay in winter.

I’m curious, are you providing supplemental light in the coop right now?

 

[Cheryli]

Congrats on getting unexpected eggs!

Maybe the chickens -- and their egg-making parts -- are finding this year's Midwest winter as confusing as I do with little-to-no snow, lots of much-warmer-than-usual days. I know egg-laying is related to the length of daylight, but I can't help but think these girls believe it's spring. At least, until the predicted cold of this week sets in.

A couple of my girls have were also laying early. One of my Easter Eggers and my Columbian Wyandotte resumed laying, almost daily, in December (That's never happened before!!). Then, Audrey, the EE, stopped. On Sunday, she laid her first egg since Jan. 16.

A few of the other girls and my Rose Comb Brown Leghorn pullet are now also contributing eggs.

BTW, you have a nice-looking mixed flock.

Congrats on getting unexpected eggs!

Maybe the chickens -- and their egg-making parts -- are finding this year's Midwest winter as confusing as I do with little-to-no snow, lots of much-warmer-than-usual days. I know egg-laying is related to the length of daylight, but I can't help but think these girls believe it's spring. At least, until the predicted cold of this week sets in.

A couple of my girls have were also laying early. One of my Easter Eggers and my Columbian Wyandotte resumed laying, almost daily, in December (That's never happened before!!). Then, Audrey, the EE, stopped. On Sunday, she laid her first egg since Jan. 16.

A few of the other girls and my Rose Comb Brown Leghorn pullet are now also contributing eggs

BTW, you have a nice-looking mixed flock. Thank you

Another cold spell is on the way. I'll soon see if Sweet Pea will continue to lay her eggs. The Olive Eggers and Isa Browns did lay during our last cold spell.
I'm glad Audrey has started to lay eggs for you. Sweet Pea had a hard molt during September and October. She just started laying again around Christmas. She had small white eggs prior to her molting. Now she is laying pointy large very light blue eggs.

 

[Cheryli]

That's great! Pretty ladies!

Most of our silkies lay all winter in Wisconsin too, but about half as many as usual. We heat the coops to 40F, which I think helps, but that's not why we do it.

Thank you so much We also heat the winter coop. Our birds have a run and a attached summer coop too. We let them in the yard during the afternoon. They are very spoiled birds

 

[Cheryli]

I’m not surprised that the youngest are laying. Some will, some won’t it just depends. It does surprise me you’re getting that many eggs since the others are older. My 1+ year olds pretty much never lay in winter.

I’m curious, are you providing supplemental light in the coop right now?

We have a heated insulated coop (our winter coop) with a window that allows light early mornings.
The Isa Browns will lay almost every day. This concerns me. I hope they slow down as for health reasons. Olive Eggers usually only lay 3 or 4 eggs a week. We are getting 5 or 6 eggs from each every week. This amazes me As for our oldest bird Sweet Pea I am surprised she is laying about 4 eggs a week. I figure we must be doing something right

 

[igorsMistress]

We have a heated insulated coop (our winter coop) with a window that allows light early mornings.
The Isa Browns will lay almost every day. This concerns me. I hope they slow down as for health reasons. Olive Eggers usually only lay 3 or 4 eggs a week. We are getting 5 or 6 eggs from each every week. This amazes me As for our oldest bird Sweet Pea I am surprised she is laying about 4 eggs a week. I figure we must be doing something right

Maybe I need to send my crew for a visit so they know how to do it

I understand your concern over health. Really though, as long as they get the nutrition they need they should be fine. I suppose it could potentially mean they stop laying at an earlier age, but who knows really?

 

[K0k0shka]

The Isa Browns will lay almost every day. This concerns me. I hope they slow down as for health reasons.

The egg laying breeds and their crosses will lay better than heritage breeds, including in winter, so there's no surprise there. It would be a surprise and bragging if you got a low production heritage breed to lay this much in winter.

 

[Mrs. K]

Count your blessings-Wow! Here in SD we have had a lot of bright sunshiny days, and I have had fresh eggs this winter, but only a couple a day out of 12.