First off, chickens typically lay a single egg a day but on average, each year a chicken takes a little time off, 3-6 months depending on breed and weather conditions.
That’s the second thing, weather. If the weather is extreme (like a cold winter or really hot summer) then a chickens body may have to work overtime to survive. When this happens the chicken will stop laying eggs until the chickens body no longer has to work so hard.
The other reason is that chickens molt once a year. That means they lose all their feathers and regrow new ones. Their body has to work hard to regrow feathers when this happens so they stop laying eggs.
As a combination of the above two it is rule of thumb for chicken owners to increase calcium and crude protein in their chickens diet to assist them in recovering. (Believe it or not diet is extremely important in any living thing.)
Another thing I’ve learned is never to trust what you read about specific chicken breeds being setters and non setters. (Chickens that like to sit on eggs rather than lay them vs chickens who do not). All chickens go broody sooner or later. Some more than others of course but there’s no such thing as a non setter. *eye roll* My experience is limited to about 20 chicken breeds that I’ve owned but I’m pretty sure I’m right.
Another way that farmers keep their chickens laying eggs in winter is by adding light in their coops. Chickens have these little sensors in their eyes that can detect light and hours of light. So when the winter comes and the days get shorter so does the chickens egg laying cycle. So farmers try to trick those sensors by providing light in the coop, typically on timers.
By the way, the reason chickens go in at dusk to sleep is because they can’t see in the dark.
Next is that one thing all chicken owners should have in their garden is Oregano and one thing for all chicken owners should keep in their pantry is apple cider vinegar.
Oregano is a strong, natural antibiotic to chickens. Whether it’s fresh or dried it is always helpful when you have a chicken who isn’t feeling well. Like any antibiotic, you should always use them sparingly so they don’t build an immunity to it. I like to put fresh oregano in their water supply about twice a year. Once in late spring/early summer and again at the end of the season just before winter.
Apple cider vinegar is like a parasite killer or wormer for chickens. If added to their drinking water it will kill bacteria that may be making them ill. If their poop is runny or too light in color they may have parasites. This is a good time to use this. I give it to mine in the spring and mid summer when bugs are at their worst.
I’ve also learned that “chicken math” is a common joke amongst chicken owners. It basically means that a non chicken owners idea of one chicken is like four chickens to a chicken owner. 😁
You remember that quote “If you build it, they will come”? Well, if you sell eggs, customers will come...religiously...and yell at you when you run out. 😳 So make sure you continue to re-raise new flocks each year to keep production up.
Just an FYI: eggs will never have the potential to become baby chicks if there’s no rooster in the flock to fertilize them. And even if there is a rooster in the flock, if you refrigerate your eggs they will never develope in any way.
Tip: Fresh eggs do not make good hard boiled eggs unless you steam them, or let them sit in the water for a long time, or let them sit in the fridge for 2 days after boiling and before peeling. The reason is because there is a membrane just under the shell. The egg shell has pores that allow oxygen in very slowly. When the egg is very fresh there is no air helping to separate the membrane from the shell. So when you try to peel them they’ll just rip apart.
Oh, and never wear shorts, flip flops or anything else that exposes your wiggly digits, painted toe nails or freckles because you will be an instant target to your tiny raptors. 😂
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