Henergy Posted September 6, 2011 Share Posted September 6, 2011 So chicken bedtime is getting earlier & earlier and as I've only had mine since March, I'm wondering what the chickens do when darkness falls in winter practically in the afternoon. Do they just have mega long sleeps ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenlegs Posted September 6, 2011 Share Posted September 6, 2011 The short answer is yes, my solar powered chickens are off to bed ever earlier as the nights draw in. You will notice a drop in egg production during the winter months too, pure breeds I'm told stop laying completely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hammy72 Posted September 6, 2011 Share Posted September 6, 2011 Have only had mine since July and chicken bedtime used to be about 9pm, last night they put themselves to bed at 7.30pm! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted September 6, 2011 Share Posted September 6, 2011 Yup - they sleep more, you will get fewer eggs, they eat a bit less (although you won't notice the food bill going down much), and the other thing is that because they spend much more time roosting in the coop, the amount of poo that needs cleaning out increases dramatically! I need to do some winter preparation, including fixing the glass tarpaulin that I started trying to do in a snowstorm last year and couldn't manage, and emptying one of the composters for easy filling on chilly winter days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reneepren Posted September 6, 2011 Share Posted September 6, 2011 yes the poo in the trays goes up and that in the garden decreases; here in Arizona where the hens are more stressed by the heat in the summer and love the pleasant winter days, our egg production goes up in the fall and winter! Renee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Treacle Posted September 6, 2011 Share Posted September 6, 2011 I am lucky if I get 1 egg a week from 4 hybrids at the moment! But I can;t complain as I had an egg every day last winter from 2 of them even in the snow!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gongladosh Posted September 11, 2011 Share Posted September 11, 2011 I had no eggs for 3 months! I feel like a traitor if I buy eggs from OTHER hens, so I had to buy pre-made Yorkshire Puddings for Sunday Roasts for ages... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuckmum6 Posted September 11, 2011 Share Posted September 11, 2011 I'm getting an egg or two every other day, my garden is covered in feathers as one of my Pekins is moulting (although you wouldn't know it looking at her) generally there is a sense of autumn coming. I am hoping that my pullets will come into lay before winter, but think that this year I will have to buy eggs . I haven't had many eggs this summer due to the high level of hormonal broody hens! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Posted September 11, 2011 Share Posted September 11, 2011 Mine are going to bed earlier too, and I got 1 egg yesterday from 4 hybrids... .ONE!!!! One has given up laying for about 2 months now, the other 3 are fairly consistent... but 1 egg... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted September 11, 2011 Share Posted September 11, 2011 Mine laid thro all of last winter - just not bothered all this summer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sammiboo Posted September 11, 2011 Share Posted September 11, 2011 I thought my egg production was decreasing was getting 4,5 and 6 eggs out of 8 chickens but this past week it's been a full house... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
