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Barnyard Buddies:  Winter Layers  |
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graciegreeneyes
True Blue Farmgirl
3107 Posts
Amy Grace
Rosalia
WA
USA
3107 Posts |
 Posted - Jan 04 2011 : 09:30:02 AM
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So my hens moulted in November and quit laying, as they had quit laying all of last winter (their first winter) I was expecting that to be it for the winter. Imagine my surprise when, in the midst of an arctic cold snap, they started up again. All but one of them (and she never lays anyway, gets by purely on her looks and personality) are laying at least every other day and a couple every day - nice surprise!!
Amy Grace
Farmgirl #224
"use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without"
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RedHoopWoman
True Blue Farmgirl
513 Posts
Kathryn
Yoder
Colorado
USA
513 Posts |
Posted - Jan 04 2011 : 09:43:12 AM
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It's so nice to go out in the morning on cold days and find a warm,freshly laid egg (or several) in the nest box,all of my Plymouth Rocks and Wyandottes are still laying,the only problem is I have to be right on top of them and check several times a day or else I end up with frozen and cracked eggs!
"Today's Mighty Oak is just Yesterday's Nut" |
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graciegreeneyes
True Blue Farmgirl
3107 Posts
Amy Grace
Rosalia
WA
USA
3107 Posts |
Posted - Jan 04 2011 : 1:37:36 PM
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Ah yes - I've had a couple of those on days when I had to work till 5:30 and it was only 10 degrees all day - it is lovely though, to get a still warm egg when the weather is so far from spring:)
Farmgirl #224
"use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without"
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Jan 04 2011 : 3:38:26 PM
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I am so jealous. But happy for you too. I had to buy eggs from the store last week. First time in years. I am very disappointed in my girls. Last winter is when they all started laying. And good. All winter. Never stopped. Now this. Nothing. Oh well. And they are done molting too.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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Mother Hen
True Blue Farmgirl
604 Posts
Cindy
Peck
ID
USA
604 Posts |
Posted - Jan 07 2011 : 8:23:36 PM
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Kris-hang in there. Mine molted in October and I only had one laying, so I threw her in with others in the inside coop that were laying, I was gonna butcher the rest but just didn't find time with the holidays and cold weather so we sure got surprised when we started getting 4 eggs on one day and anywhere from 1-3 on the other day. Guess those girls are gonna be kept around! Don't give up hope!
Cindy
FARMGIRLS CAN DO ANYTHING!!!
I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. Psalms 34:1 |
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LakeOntarioFarmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
933 Posts
Brenda
North Rose
NY
USA
933 Posts |
Posted - Jan 08 2011 : 4:31:35 PM
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We have noticed an increase in production too!!! We have 30 layers and for a few weeks were only getting about 4 or 5 eggs a day. Now, we are getting about a dozen a day. I think some of it has to do with more sun the last week, and less snow flying. Just as cold, but I think the sun makes a difference! :)
Brenda
FarmGirl # 711
"If you have made mistakes, there is always another chance for you. You may have a fresh start any moment you choose, for this thing we call 'failure' is not the falling down, but the staying down. "~ Mary Pickford
http://theviewfromhere-brenda.blogspot.com/ |
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Oggie
True Blue Farmgirl
526 Posts
Ginny
Machias
Maine
USA
526 Posts |
Posted - Jan 08 2011 : 10:00:21 PM
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We have 12 and they started laying this past October and haven't stopped yet. I think we are the only folks in town who's girls are still laying from the talk I hear. My hubby just bought a heater (electric) and put it in there today in hopes that if they stay warm, at least between 32 - 50 they will lay all winter. Anyone else tried a heater in your coop? It's a convection ceramic heater and is made to be in a coop so the girls don't get burned.
Ginny
Farmgirl #2343
Life is Beautiful with Bunnies
www.thedewhopinn.com |
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Penny Dyke
True Blue Farmgirl
93 Posts
Penny
East Palestine
Ohio
USA
93 Posts |
Posted - Jan 09 2011 : 06:09:32 AM
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| This is my second winter for my girls I have 9 silver laced wyndottes.I had 11 lost two too the fox,fixed that problem.They layed all last winter and still laying so far this winter .I just ordered more chicks for the spring,people are driving me crazy wanting fresh eggs.i also have two white pekin ducks they have layed all through both winters,and boy are they great for baking yum! |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Jan 09 2011 : 06:30:08 AM
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Are any of you feeding laying feed to your hens right now?
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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Penny Dyke
True Blue Farmgirl
93 Posts
Penny
East Palestine
Ohio
USA
93 Posts |
Posted - Jan 09 2011 : 07:37:26 AM
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| Yes I feed layer crumbles all year,plus my girls are free range, they get locked up at night for protection |
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sherrye
True Blue Farmgirl
3775 Posts
sherry
bend in the high desert
oregon
USA
3775 Posts |
Posted - Jan 09 2011 : 08:08:54 AM
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i so miss my eggs. culled the flock. so now shopping. hoping to get some on ad on craigs. hoping hoping hoping one egg is still a cake and a scramble a week lol happy days sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farm girl #1014
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graciegreeneyes
True Blue Farmgirl
3107 Posts
Amy Grace
Rosalia
WA
USA
3107 Posts |
Posted - Jan 09 2011 : 08:33:18 AM
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I feed layer pellets all year too. We have a heat lamp in their roosting area - it's the infrared one, I wasn't thinking that that would make a difference though - oh well, I'm diggin' the eggs. Going to make some lemon curd tomorrow to use some up as a matter of fact.
Farmgirl #224
"use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without"
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Tammyb
True Blue Farmgirl
511 Posts
Tammy
Bluffton
Ohio
USA
511 Posts |
Posted - Jan 15 2011 : 1:18:01 PM
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I am feeding laying crumbles and scratch grain ... plus kitchen scraps to my flock.
Am getting only 5 eggs a day but it is freezing here and they are out in the back so I
know they will pick up production as the weather warms. Keep them warm (sort of ) and feed and watered and they should start laying nicely as spring approaches.
Tammyb
Live to leave a legacy
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Celticheart
True Blue Farmgirl
811 Posts
Marcia
WA
USA
811 Posts |
Posted - Jan 23 2011 : 2:26:18 PM
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Mine lay all the time. They do taper off some when it's really cold and I give them a break in the mid to late fall and don't put a light in the coop until it gets really cold and dark. We were using heat lamps but they keep flying at them and breaking them so now all they get is a 75 watt bulb. They seem happy. We don't heat the coop but do have lots of straw on the floor of the coop and leave it until spring. This is our 4th year. We feed layer crumbles and scratch plus kitchen scraps. They are turned out to the pasture to forage also when I'm home. DH doesn't like that much but too bad. I think the eggs are better. We started with 40+ Black Australorps and they have been fantastic--very healthy and terrific layers. Last summer we culled some hens and got 15 new pullets--12 Barred Rocks and 3 Delawares(because some lady didn't take the ones she ordered) and a Delaware rooster. We'll be getting at least that many more this spring. Not sure what kind yet. I really like the Delawares and I'd never heard of them. They're big hens and the rooster is a real 'gentleman.' Good thing or he'd be history. I keep telling DH we're keeping him.
Right now we have around 30 chickens and we're getting 18-24 eggs a day and it's been really cold here for quite some time. I'm sure some of the Australorps that are left are laying very little but we do still get some eggs from them too.
"Let us never forget that the cultivation of the earth is the most important labor of man. When tillage begins, other art follows. The farmers, therefore, are the founders of civilization."
Daniel Webster
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Barnyard Buddies: Winter Layers |
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Winter Layers
