The REAL Reason Your Chickens Aren't Laying Eggs... Probably!

[@SageandStoneHomestead]

We have put artificial light on our chickens and quail every winter for going on 5 winters now and have noticed no adverse effects. We do see about a 2 month lull in eggs around feb and march regardless, so my take is when they need a break they take one anyway no matter what. And that is fine. Our chickens cost the most to feed on the whole farm so I need them to produce most of the year to be worth keeping.

[@WhitepepperFarmshomestead]

I can’t say I blame you!

[@WhitepepperFarmshomestead]

I have a friend down the road who keeps a light in his as well without any issues!

[@mikasaanderen6175]

I think it is amazing that they get a break, a good rest from laying. ☺️

[@WhitepepperFarmshomestead]

I’m sure they enjoy a little time off! We are able to store enough eggs from summer to get us through winter, so it isn’t a big deal!

[@mikasaanderen6175]

@@WhitepepperFarmshomestead oh ! How long can you keep eggs ?

[@WhitepepperFarmshomestead]

@mikasaanderen6175 there are a few things you can do like freezing and water glassing that can give you a year or so, but we freeze dry ours and that gives us about a 25 year shelf life!

[@mikasaanderen6175]

@@WhitepepperFarmshomestead 🤩🤩 OMG

[@joeyl.rowland4153]

I told you I would give you an update on my Barnveldors. Shorter days and this week my 6 birds produce twice the eggs that they did last week. 5 last week 10 this week and I expect to collect still today. I don't believe all 6 of my birds are laying. I have two distinctively different varieties of Barnveldors. They are visibly different. All hens for certain at 9 months. I also think the books are right when it says they can be 10 months to egg maturity. But overall I like the breed they are dual purpose and all my birds are maybe 7 1/2 pound hens. They aren't huge but they are healthy birds. And as they're egg production ramps up they are consistent. I get eggs everyday. And now it is more than one at a time. Usually twice a day overnight and afternoon. The birds are mellow.

[@WhitepepperFarmshomestead]

Oh boy, I wasn’t going to get new chickens next season but now I may have to 😂. That’s awesome! Thank you for the update!

[@SpeakTruthBeKind]

Are they truly dual purpose? I once owned Sussex cross chickens said to be dual purpose but those hens did not have much in the way of a breast when it came to put butchering them. 🤔

[@joeyl.rowland4153]

@@SpeakTruthBeKind I couldn't say for certain but all 6 of my hens weigh about 7 or 8 pounds they are pretty girthy. They are not even a year so no where near the frying pan, I am getting at least 30 eggs a week out of 6 hens.

[@Patriots4Ken]

Only my leghorns are molting like crazy, but two of the three are still laying occasionally and my buff orpington's aren't laying. Thank you for the video.

[@WhitepepperFarmshomestead]

Our leghorns are the only ones laying right now and they are also molting 😂

[@kathycerwin7416]

My chickens are laying 10-14;eggs a day. But my chickens are young, I currently have 24 hens and no roosters.

[@WhitepepperFarmshomestead]

Yeah we have 10 and are currently getting maybe one a day 😭! Young birds are great!

[@whatintheheck4692]

Do I need to be turning on a heat light at night for my chickens? I have 6 adult chickens and the temps have been hitting 22° at night time. I’m worried about them getting too cold.

[@WhitepepperFarmshomestead]

Nope! They do really well in the cold. You’re good!

[@iwanttobelieve5970]

I went from 8 hens to 4 and then had two eaten right out of the Dog crate that I have as their coop. 😞😞 So the last two stopped. According to Google they're too young to be molting. They're 8 month old Black Australorps. My daughter saw them and said they look sad. They do, they really do. I'm still trying to secure their coop with my limited skills but I'm going to be buying two 15 week Pullets and I'm hoping that it will trigger them to continue to lay but if not, it's okay. I just need for the raccoons to realize they can't get to them and when they feel safe and hopefully have more company, they will start laying again or in January or February they will with the two new hens.

[@WhitepepperFarmshomestead]

Oh no, that’s sad! Honestly something like that could be stress related as to why they stopped laying!