A new journey into homesteading "pic heavy"

[Chic Rustler]

Days are getting shorter. Nights are getting colder. Went from getting 8-10 eggs a day to 1 today. Coyotes are within 50 yards of the coop tonight. Luckily the dogs are on top of things. May try cleaning the coop and laying down new bedding and see if that helps egg production.

 

[CrealCritter]

Days are getting shorter. Nights are getting colder. Went from getting 8-10 eggs a day to 1 today. Coyotes are within 50 yards of the coop tonight. Luckily the dogs are on top of things. May try cleaning the coop and laying down new bedding and see if that helps egg production.

If you can try a 60 watt Bush bulb in the coop. If you can put it on a timer to equal your longest day light in the summer. I just burn mine 24x7 because I don't have a timer.

 

[Chic Rustler]

Na. Ill let them have their natural cycle. But if its predators or conditions bothering them im gonna fix it

 

[Mini Horses]

This time of year they molt. So on top of shorter days creating less eggs, molt will also. They shed and regrow every feather. Are you seeing feathers everywhere? Birds 1/2 dressed, LOL?

It's what they do. You won't see molt on birds that are a year or less. I know you've hatched a lot and possibly not had many older. They pretty much stop, or lay only every few days. Hey, I've got 50 layers, got 5 eggs today. Some days a dozen. Not the normal 3+ dz. My customers know to slow up, too.

I you use a bulb, be careful it isn't coated...forgot what it was but, the fumes will kill them! Since I don't light, not an issue here. They need a rest.

 

[sumi]

If they are aware of predators the stress can affect egg production as well, along with the short days and possibly molting.

@Mini Horses, that's correct, teflon coated bulbs: https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...not-attacked-update-teflon-poisoning.1215065/

 

[NH Homesteader]

No kidding, I didn't know that! We don't light, but good to know in case we ever do. Prefer to let them be chickens!

Good luck with the coyotes. We're expecting issues this year. Bumper crop of acorns=massive influx of squirrels=lots of coyotes... ugh.

 

[Mini Horses]

Good luck with the coyotes. We're expecting issues this year. Bumper crop of acorns=massive influx of squirrels=lots of coyotes... ugh.

There's that "food chain" …….. Ever notice they like the young & tender pullets? Yeah, SSS those coyotes & fox & a skunk will consume small, young ones!

Yes, Teflon, thanks Sumi.

I have a hen who hid & hatched. So, two chicks and one just disappeared at about 2 days. The survivor...well, she had her nest in a trailer, it's 4' off the ground and insists on going back there each night. Little one (prob a roo!! my luck) can't get up there. So I fought ninja hen and put it with her for a week. Now, she get up there, both talk and at almost dark, I go out and find it under a ramp...it's safe spot, pick it up and put in trailer. Used to be a chase, now it knows I am there to help and doesn't run. Can't move ramp, it's huge & then goats could/would be in trailer.

 

[Chic Rustler]

I got a couple bails of pine shavings. Gonna clean out the coop and build a new compost pile. Not much i can do about the preditors and weather.

 

[baymule]

My EE flock lays nice big eggs and they lay faithfully. They are in molt and look like they went through a feather picker. LOL I have 11 and get 2-5 a day, be glad when they go back to laying! I have 29 hens and get 8-10 eggs a day right now. I have an Australorp flock, BIG disappointment. Instead of the large brown eggs, I am getting small to medium, 5-6 out of 10 hens. Boo.

 

[Chic Rustler]

Cleaned out the coop. A couple hens are molting. But that doesnt explain the white leghorns that quit laying or the EE that havent came into lay yet. We will see