Finally!

[so lucky]

After a three month hiatus, my spoiled chickens are laying again. What a wonderful surprise awaited me when I let them out for their afternoon stroll.. They have been acting different this week, and had started talking to me again, whereas a week ago, I couldn't even get a murmur out of any of them when I locked them up for the evening and said good night. Just sullen silence. They started doing the egg song a couple of days ago, and sitting in the nests, so I actually figured it wouldn't be too long. And... I was gifted today with two eggs! The other two ladies aren't back at it yet. It may well be another month before they lay anymore, but at least there's hope.

 

[lesa]

Great! I practically forgot how delicious fresh eggs were. We didn't have many November thru most of January. I finally gave up and put a light in there for a couple hours in the morning. I actually have extra eggs and have made 2 quiche to celebrate! 48 days until spring!

 

[ninnymary]

Yep, it's great! I too found 2 eggs this morning out of 4 hens.

Mary

 

[Mickey328]

I just love it when the sun comes back! We didn't provide any light in the coop for a couple months and production dwindled drastically. We finally added light about mid December and we're up to about 2 or 3 a day now. Not the 5 we got during the summer, but plenty for our needs. Since we got the chickens, I absolutely refuse to buy eggs!

 

[baymule]

Amen to that Mickey! The 1st year we had our 2 hens, we bought them at 18 months old, so of course they molted. NOOOOOOOO eggs for over 3 months. I bought 1 dozen eggs from the store and still had one left when they started laying again. Last year, I had 6 new hens and they didn't molt until this fall. Even then, we still got a couple of eggs a day, then nothing. I put a light on them and am now getting 3-7 eggs a day out of 8 hens. It is always so wonderful to get eggs again! Congrats to all the hens that are laying again!!

 

[journey11]

I miss fresh eggies too. Enjoy!

 

[jomoncon]

I think it's about time for me to replace my 7 RIRs. I've been getting 2-3 eggs a day for the since last summer, even with extra lighting. They're only quite 3 years old, but out of 7 hens, I should be getting more than this. They have access to good feed, fresh water, extra lighting, and plenty of space. I don't know what the problem is, but I think I should be getting more eggs than this.

 

[Smiles Jr.]

Maybe it 'cause I have a bright light on a timer in the coop but our egg production has only slowed a little this winter. We are down to 11 hens these days and we have been getting anywhere from 6 to 8 eggs every day. I have the timer set to go on at 6:00A and off at 10:00A and then on again at 6:00P and off at 8:00P. It seems to work very well especially when there is 3" of snow on the ground and dark gloomy winter clouds overhead.

 

[bobm]

I think it's about time for me to replace my 7 RIRs. I've been getting 2-3 eggs a day for the since last summer, even with extra lighting. They're only quite 3 years old, but out of 7 hens, I should be getting more than this. They have access to good feed, fresh water, extra lighting, and plenty of space. I don't know what the problem is, but I think I should be getting more eggs than this.

As Old age creeps up , egg production goes down. Time for new pullets and chicken soup.

 

[so lucky]

I don't have electricity to the chicken coop, but in hot summer I run an extension cord out there with a fan. Guess I should have done this for a light in winter, but I will wait till next winter now. I suppose I could bury a cord. I wonder if just a heavy duty extension cord would work, or if I need the industrial wiring romax or what ever it is called.