4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[Redwing]

Are your 'normals' pure breeds or hybrids? The pure breeds don't lay much in the winter apparently.

[Bephlam]

I think it's more likely that their egg production is decreasing for the winter! or perhaps because they have been moulting!

 

I doubt someone is stealing the eggs, but...stranger things have happened!!!

[Egluntyne]

I agree that it is probably the time of year.

 

Why not padlock the gate, though, to make sure!

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I only have 3 hens, but we are definitely getting fewer eggs - they miss a day quite often now whereas they used to lay for weeks on end with no break.

 

How about using the old "hair across the doorway" trick to see if anyone's opening the eggport in your absence ?

[..lay a little egg for me]

How about using the old "hair across the doorway" trick to see if anyone's opening the eggport in your absence ?

 

 

Good idea!

[The Dogmother]

I wondered that one year Scarmbled; all the eggs stopped abruptly, then a week later they all started to moult - there was my answer.

 

Could they be making a garden nest? It's one thing to consider.

[LJ's Chooks]

We usually get 5 or six a day from our 7 girls, but the last week this has dropped to 2 or 3... they are moulting, its cold suddenly, the days are noticibly shorter and the dreaded fireworks have started.

 

Poor girls, do you think OH will object if i bring them in for the winter????

[Steve.]

Mine almost stopped laying, 3 or 4 between the 8 of them.

 

I've been almost force-feeding them by giving them mash instead of just pellets - they can't help themselves and scoff the lot.

 

We got 6 eggs the last two days.

 

So to answer your question - I think it is due to the Winter.

[The Dogmother]

Shorter daylight hours, colder weather, hens' circadian clocks = no eggs

 

I have 12 hens (admittedly pure breeds) and got no eggs at all today

[chickenanne]

To be contraversial: I have 2 hybrids and 2 pure breeds. One of the pure breeds lays an egg a day, every day, without many gaps. One of the hybrids does the same. The other hybrid is a terrible layer: probably no more than three a week, and none in the winter.

 

One of the hybrids (the one that lays well!!!) is really prone to broodiness. Neither of the pure-breeds are.

 

Honestly, I think it depends so much on both the particular breed and also the strain (and, no doubt, luck!) as to how "utility" the birds end up being, rather than purely down to hybrid/pure-breed.

 

OK, am getting off the soap-box now.... buy pure-breeds! keep our hen-heritage going! No, really, am going now... sorry....