How To Help Your Chickens Lay More Eggs In Winter.

Are your chickens suddenly not laying many eggs? Here are 5 things you can do to help your chickens lay more eggs this winter.

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Why Did My Hens Stop Laying As Many Eggs Now That Its Winter?

If you are looking for the short answer, they simply aren’t supposed to be laying eggs in winter. How many birds do you know that lay year round in the wild? If your answer was not very many, you would be correct.

Chickens did not always lay as many eggs as they do today. Chickens, which have been bred from Junglefowl, used to only lay 10-15 eggs per year, just like most other birds. From these Junglefowl and selective breeding we have managed to breed a bird that can lay up to 300 eggs a year.

But chickens still can’t lay eggs 365 days out of the year, their body’s have to take a break sometime. For most birds this happens in winter, the day light is shorter and they are using their energy to stay warm instead of laying eggs.

5 Ways To Help Your Chickens Lay More Eggs

1. Firstly feed them more protein. In the wintertime chickens aren’t able to forage and find as many bugs, which make up a good part of their diet in the summertime. And these bugs provide them with protein. On top of not being able to find as much protein by foraging, chickens burn more protein in winter to help them stay warm. Increasing their protein will help ensure that they are getting what they need to help them lay eggs while also staying warm.
   There are two different mixtures that I like to use to give them more protein in the winter. First I use a mixture of cracked corn, wheat and mealworms and mix it in with their regular feed in their feeder. We use this feeder and it is really nice because the chickens don’t throw any of the food on the ground with it. But also when it is extra cold and they just like to hang out in the coop I’ll add an extra container in the coop. In this container I mix rolled oats and cornmeal.

2. Secondly give them cayenne pepper. Cayenne pepper helps them stay warmer by improving their circulation. The less energy they have to spend staying warm, the more energy they have to lay eggs. Cayenne pepper also has other benefits for chickens, one of which is it improves their immune system. I sprinkle some in their feeder or in their dish of oats and cornmeal in the coop. Normally I just put in enough so I can see it in their food.

3. Thirdly, make sure they have un-frozen water at all times. When it is really cold it can be tempting not to change the chickens water every time it freezes, especially when you have to do it many times a day. But, not changing every time it freezes can impact the amount of eggs they lay. Eggs are mostly made of water and therefore they need water to lay eggs.

4. Also make sure they are comfy and happy. This doesn’t mean that they need a heated coop with all the fancy bells and whistles. Making sure that they have fresh bedding, a safe place from wild animals and to get out of the wind and cold if they want to goes a long way in making them happy. Birds that are stressed do not lay as many eggs or even any eggs at all. Feeding them table scraps and little treats can help boost their mood too. Sometimes we will give ours a peck block to keep them busy and happy.

5. Lastly, you can give them more light. There is less daylight in the winter and this can cause your chickens to lay less eggs. You can ‘trick’ them into laying more eggs by putting a light in their coop and putting it on a timer. Making sure they have 12-15 hours of light in a 24 hour period can help get your egg production up. There is some debate of whether or not this should be done as some say they need the winter to rest. I can’t say whether or not it is right or wrong because you will have to decide that for yourself.

Are There Any Other Ways To Help My Chickens Lay More Eggs?

There are other tips and tricks out there to help your chickens lay more eggs. These are just the 5 things that I use and know work, at least for my flock. If you have any other tips and tricks that you know of and use please let me know what they are in the comments below!