Chicken Eggs in Winter

[Cheryli]

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?

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.

we are having very cold temperatures averaging *15 Fahrenheit here in Wisconsin for the next week. I believe my girls eggs will drop.

 

[StinkyAcres]

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.

Yep, it's the breeds. Isa Browns were bred to be prolific layers for the first 2 years or so. It's hard on their bodies and because of this they don't usually live as long as non-high-production breeds. I have found Ameraucana-type Easter Eggers to be a great choice - they lay plenty of eggs but have fewer health issues and live and lay longer. I've just ordered Olive Eggers this year and I'm excited to see how I like them!

 

[Cheryli]

Yep, it's the breeds. Isa Browns were bred to be prolific layers for the first 2 years or so. It's hard on their bodies and because of this they don't usually live as long as non-high-production breeds. I have found Ameraucana-type Easter Eggers to be a great choice - they lay plenty of eggs but have fewer health issues and live and lay longer. I've just ordered Olive Eggers this year and I'm excited to see how I like them!

We got started with Olive Eggers when we had one that adopted us in March 2023. Someone abandoned her on our block. No one would claim her. We called her Girdy Bird. Someone gave us an Easter Egger. Sweet Pea was only a month old. Girdy Bird took to her. What a beautiful, smart chicken Girdy Bird was. She passed last June. I bought our 4 Olive Eggers from Tractor Supply just afterwards. Our young Olive Eggers are very sweet. I'm sure you'll love your new Olive Eggers

 

[StinkyAcres]

We got started with Olive Eggers when we had one that adopted us in March 2023. Someone abandoned her on our block. No one would claim her. We called her Girdy Bird. Someone gave us an Easter Egger. Sweet Pea was only a month old. Girdy Bird took to her. What a beautiful, smart chicken Girdy Bird was. She passed last June. I bought our 4 Olive Eggers from Tractor Supply just afterwards. Our young Olive Eggers are very sweet. I'm sure you'll love your new Olive Eggers

Awww, adorable! Really looking forward to getting my Olive Eggers!

 

[Angela Thomson]

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.

My Australorps quit laying about two weeks ago! Never had this problem before.

 

[Angela Thomson]

So

My Australorps quit laying about two weeks ago! Never had this problem before.

Southern Indiana and it’s COLD.

 

[StinkyAcres]

My Australorps quit laying about two weeks ago! Never had this problem before.

How old are they?

 

[Angela Thomson]

How old are they?

They’ll be two years this spring. The other chickens are still laying. Not sure what breed they are.

 

[PrettyBirdRocky]

That's good. Most of our girls (2yo this spring) did a hard molt Oct/Nov and just started to begin laying again within last couple weeks. Our new eggers(less than year or coming up on year old), one laid all winter and is still going (she's a blue wheaten/leghorn cross) and others laid most of winter with a soft molt.

Now last winter, our light Brahmas laid all winter and did a soft molt.

No lights where they sleep. And heated water bowls only.

 

[Angela Thomson]

They’ll be two years this spring. The other chickens are still laying. Not sure what breed they are.