Those crazy chickens! Back in about September, they all apparently went on strike. In one coop .. not a single egg. They stopped completely. In one coop, with 13 hens, I was getting 1 or 2 eggs per day. In another coop, with 5 or 6 hens, depending on what that one chicken was/is, I was getting 1 or 2 eggs. That’s when I said “I’m done with these worthless chickens!” and gave all of them away except the ones that had 5 or 6 hens, along with one sweet rooster.
They continued to lay 1 or 2 eggs a day until about two weeks ago and either I said something they liked or they got over whatever grudge they were holding because I’m now getting 5 or 6 eggs per day, which means the weird chicken has to be a hen.
Eggs!
Five full sized eggs and one Bantam . . almost every day so I’m back to giving eggs to most anyone who will take them.
Those are some fine looking eggs, don’t you think? I love having just a few chickens!
Marsha B says
The eggs are beautiful and I wish I lived close enough to get some of the extras. There is a covenant in our neighborhood prohibiting keeping chickens but the city is thinking about changing that. It would be nice to collect a few eggs a day instead of buying them at the grocery store. Home grown is so much healthier! Enjoy !
Tina Marie says
Must be going around. I went out to clean the coop and had a nest full. Wouldn’t you know I bought two dozen yesterday.
Jane P. says
I’ve always heard it has something to do with increasing/decreasing daylight.
No daylight = no eggs! Enjoy them.
JudyL says
Back in the old days, that was true more so than today. With today’s hybrid breeds, there are chickens that will lay every day, summer, winter, long days, short days. I’ve had the same breeds that I have now for 4 years. The Dominiques do cut back during the shorter days but instead getting 5 eggs per week from each chicken, in the past, I’ve gotten 2 or 3 during the winter. The Australorps are known to be one of the breeds that lay every day.
So, in the past, I’ve counted on not having as many eggs in the winter but never have I had zero eggs in the winter.
Linda in NE says
When days get shorter hens lay less. When the days start getting longer production picks up. Just the natural cycle. Mom always hated winter…it seemed like all her chickens did was eat, but didn’t lay many eggs. That hurts when egg money is your grocery money.
JudyL says
These are the same chickens I had last winter and they never stopped laying. They did cut back but not to zero like they did this year. They started laying at pretty much full capacity about three weeks ago and the days were that much longer then. From 6 hens, I’ll never get more than 6 eggs per day and I’m getting 5 or 6 every day now. Even the red sex link chickens don’t usually cut back at all during the winter and I had gone from getting 10 to 12 eggs per day from 13 chickens to getting 1 or 2 per day. It’s all crazy.
Donna says
Remember how much you like a FEW chickens when you go to Tractor Supply. (lol)
Rebecca in SoCal says
What Donna said. Chick Days are coming!!
Dianne S. says
Our hens have picked up in production, so not too many slackers these days. Sure love our girls, not sure if we will get new chicks in the spring or not..Time will tell..