Many things change during winter, animals hibernate, birds migrate and chickens stop laying eggs in the winter too. So, when do chickens start laying eggs after winter?
Chickens start laying eggs after winter between the spring equinox and winter solstice of February. Their bodies slow down egg production when they receive less sunlight and produce more when their bodies are exposed to more sunlight. To combat this provide them with artificial light, reduce their stress and provide calcium in their diet.
One of the main reasons why we rear chickens are for their eggs. Chicken eggs are a great source of protein and nutrition for the body. The best egg-laying breeds, the ‘layers’ generally start laying around 18 weeks and can give you a consistent supply of eggs if properly fed and looked after.
But, if you have reared chickens for more than a year, you will know that there is usually a drop in their egg-laying rate during winter. This is perfectly normal. In this article, you will find all the information you need to help your layers start laying eggs again as soon as possible.
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When do chickens start laying eggs after winter?
Chickens will go back to laying eggs between the spring equinox and winter solstice of February. The major period when chickens stop laying eggs is during winter. Chickens have a pretty hard job, once they reach the egg-laying stage, they lay eggs every day. That being said, it’s normal for them to take a break once in a while for their bodies to get enough rest. This break is good for their bodies, it also has a perfectly logical explanation.
Egg production in chickens does not depend on the season or temperature. It depends on one major factor: sunlight. Chickens have a pineal gland in their brain that kickstarts their reproductive cycle. This gland does this depending on the amount of sunlight a chicken gets daily.
On average, chickens need at least 12 hours of exposure to sunlight for their body to produce eggs. The winter season is characterized by shorter days, this explains why they either stop laying eggs or the laying rate reduces during winter. Once chickens get up to 12-16 hours of sunlight daily, they will start laying eggs again. This usually happens between the spring equinox and winter solstice of February.
Chickens also undergo a process in winter called moulting. This is when they shed their feathers and grow new ones. It’s a tough process sometimes and you will need to take extra care of your chickens to ensure that they finish moulting as fast as possible and get back to laying their eggs.
How to get chickens to lay eggs during winter?
You can get them to lay eggs during winter by providing the optimum conditions they need. Below are a few things you can do to get them to lay eggs during winter.
- Provide artificial sunlight: Since their body is triggered to lay eggs based on the hours of sunlight they get, you can get them to lay eggs by providing artificial sunlight. All you need to do this is a 40-watt bulb. Once the bulb is programmed to provide 12-16 hours of light daily, their bodies will produce eggs.
- Reduce their stress: Apart from sunlight, you need to ensure that your chickens don’t feel stressed. Stress reduces their ability to lay eggs. Keep their stress down by keeping their coops clean, making sure they are well-fed, providing enough nest boxes, securing their coops and giving them enough space to roam. If you do this they will be in laying shape again.
- Provide enough calcium in their diet: The average layer needs around 5 grams of calcium a day to produce strong eggshells. Your chickens will not produce eggs if they don’t get enough calcium. Luckily, getting calcium in their feed is as simple as crushing eggshells and feeding it to them. You can also feed them oyster shells to make sure they get enough calcium.
- Add protein: If they are moulting, they will also need more protein in their feed. Feathers are made of 85% protein. Their feed should contain around 20% protein to keep their protein levels up and get them through the moulting process faster.
When you use these tips, you can expect eggs to come more regularly. However, it is important that you keep your chickens on a rigid routine with the artificial sunlight, or else, you may not get any eggs.
Do all chickens stop laying eggs in winter?
No, there are chicken breeds that are excellent at laying eggs during winter. You can choose any of these breeds to make sure your supply of eggs doesn’t drop during winter. But generally, irrespective of the breed, once your chickens get enough daylight and the right feed, they will produce eggs.
What chickens lay best in winter?
Certain chicken breeds such as Chanteclers, Wyandottes, and Brahmas are excellent at laying eggs during winter. The reason for this is simple, they require only a few hours of daylight to trigger egg production.
What do you do with chickens in the winter?
It is only natural for some chickens to stop laying eggs during winter. It can happen due to the reasons given above or it may be due to age. Older chickens make better brooders, it might also be time to think of them as meat providers.
If the chicken is still young enough to produce eggs and you are happy to let it rest during winter, it will get back to laying and being productive when the conditions are right again.
If you’re interested in chickens you may also be interested in these articles: why do chickens wag their tails, why do chickens eat feathers, how to get chickens to sleep on the roost, why do chickens have wings, how to get chickens to lay bigger eggs, why do chickens cluck, click the links to read more.