I agree with Alana…the down to earth blog has great ideas! Our chicken’s egg production decreases in the winter, too. We have a light on for them during the day since they don’t like to go out in the snow. They’re such a bunch of chickens.

Kendra,
Sorry I’m so late on commenting. I just wanted to tell you about a blog I like to read: http://down—to—earth.blogspot.com/
It’s from Australia but it has good advice on homesteading. A couple days ago, she had a series on raising chickens that you might like to read.
I so enjoy reading your blog–esp. the antics of the pig and puppy.

Chickens are such easy animals to care for. Another reason I love them so! I’ve also learned that if you keep the coop door open, when it’s their ‘bedtime’, they’ll walk into the coop and get on their roosts without you having to go get them and put them in the coop.

You would think that the cold weather would hinder egg production, but certain breeds are still good winter layers IF THEY HAVE SUNLIGHT. This is key to good winter layers. So the clear plastic serves to allow them to lay longer. (Exception: if they are molting).

anna-

We probably get less eggs because we don’t keep a light on. I’ve read that keeping a light on in the coop will encourage your chickens to lay more often.

We have both ducks and chickens, and I was concerned because our chickens lost a TON of feathers and were going to weather the winter ‘bare-bottomed’… but they’re just fine.

We have a shed (8×8 wooden off Craigslist) with a door/ramp on the side cut for them, and apple crates as nesting boxes (with straw in them). We do leave the light on in there all of the time for warmth, but they do fine. The ducks stay outside, the chickens stay within.

Not sure why you’re getting so few eggs, though. Breed, maybe? We average 2 ducks and 3 chicken eggs a day, and it’s February in Michigan. Yes, they pitter off in November/December when it’s so dark for so long, but we still get at least two eggs a day during that time.

Mrs. D,

Great advice! We’d love to get some ducks in the future to go on our ponds. Still have to figure out how to keep the foxes from getting them though. My dad got several ducks a few years back, but within a week they were all gone. No, we don’t sell our eggs as we don’t get many yet. I’m dying to hatch chicks and increase our flock size so that we do have an abundance of eggs. I’d love to have a way of making money to buy the feed. We’ll get there eventually So glad you enjoy my posts!! I love hearing your comments as well. It’s good to get feedback from people who are more experienced!