Christmas morning one of the buff Orpingtons gifted me with an egg. It was the first one I had received from them in many weeks. I chose the Orpingtons because they were reported to be good winter layers. All I can say about that is .. hah! There was another one in the nest box this morning so maybe after a little egg free vacay they are getting back into the program ... one can always hope.
The Red Stars have been faithful layers of huge brown eggs with very few days of not laying. I plan to get two more Red Star chicks to add to my flock this coming spring. Their eggs are nearly twice the size of the Orpingtons. My Sweet Cicely has the best personality. She trails after me like a cat and loves to be talked to and petted.
I'll also be adding four Ameraucanas. Either pullets from my nurse practitioner or chicks from a local farm store. I think I would prefer to raise the chicks but it would also be nice to have pullets ready to lay eggs in time for the Farmers Market. If I can figure out the lodging logistics I might do both. =)
Monday, December 27, 2010
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6 comments:
Have you tried putting a red light in the hen house? My girls had slowed down considerably but when it got really cold here, I added a heat light. Within a few days, they increased the production back to where it was in the late summer. Now I am getting 10-15 eggs from 18 hens everyday with nightime temps below freezing. It's worth a try. Don't you just love chickens?! I do.
Thank you for giving me hope! Mine haven't laid for several weeks, it was hard for me to buy eggs this month at the grocery. I'm keeping my fingers crossed they will get back at it, and soon!
Were the orpingtons moulting? Mine have always taken a few weeks at the beginning of winter to regulate themselves. I've only been getting about two eggs a day from eight hens.
I don't know if it works or not, but I've heard that if you put a golf ball or plastic egg in the nest box it can encourage them to lay. It might be an old wives tale, though! Good luck!
hahahaha the girls in a red light district just cracks me up. Sorry. But what would mom say about that? hahaha
Hi Penny. I noticed you on my followers and wanted to come pay a visit. Very interesting post. My Ameraucanas and Barred Holland have continued to lay right on through the shortest day of the year, so the topic of winter layers is on my mind. I didn't know about the orpingtons. My DH loves the buffs. My Welsummers and Delaware quit laying quite awhile ago. They look like they are finally finished their moult and beginning to feather out again, so maybe??? I did freeze 13 dozen extra eggs last summer though. Just in case.
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