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Sometimes we have to give the chickens a break! No, the rooster doesn't pack up and take his hens to the beach for vacation but chickens do produce less eggs under certain conditions.
Maybe that's when we need to break out the
Everything Bagels or sourdough toast and jam for breakfast. As one of my ranchers said in the early days of the McKinney Farmers Market, "Don't people know that farmers eat oatmeal in the winter for a reason?"
So, when do chickens lay fewer eggs? Fewer daylight hours in winter and extreme temperatures (either hot or cold) affect egg production. Hens generally need 14-16 hours of light per day to maintain consistent egg production. When days shorten in fall and winter, their reproductive hormones decrease, naturally slowing or stopping egg production. This is a survival mechanism allowing hens to rest and conserve energy for the next laying season.
Extreme temperatures also affect laying. In hot weather (above 80 degrees fahrenheit), hens can experience heat stress, dehydration and reduced appetite which can lower egg production by up to 25%.
So...when it's really hot or the days are shorter it's a good idea to place a pre-order for your eggs at the market. And to stock up on egg alternatives at the market!
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