Laying Eggs Every Day Through Winter

Have you ever experienced your chickens not laying eggs during, or not enough to support your family through, the winter? Have you ever wondered and thought to yourself, 'Why are my chickens not laying throughout the year,' or 'Why aren't all of my chickens laying every day of the year'? What if I told you it was all about their diet and not based on the light or any other myth that you may have heard over the years? Well, it's true!

Chickens can lay all year long no matter what the breed, temperature, or season. It is completely based on their diet! Although, it is easier for hens to lay eggs in the warmer months of the year than the cooler months; but, it is possible to keep your hens laying all year round.

The main reason that they do not continue to lay eggs throughout the cooler months is from lack of protein, fat, and calcium. They need a surplus of protein, fat, and calcium, because their bodies demand a lot of these for staying warm and protecting their bodies from the colder temperatures. Protein is for the energy to push out an egg and make feathers. Oil gives the bird fat to store to stay warm through winter. Calcium is for supporting the hind muscles when they are pushing out an egg and making the feathers for warming up a chicken's body.

This is a very easy recipe to give your chickens, if you want eggs all year from each hen and the best for your flock:

Chicken (And Other Fowl) Feed - Part 1

- DE (Diatomaceous Earth) = Dewormer

- Black Oil Sunflower Seeds = Oil = Makes Fat

- Whole Corn (Animal Grade, not sweet) = Foodstuffs

- Cat or puppy food (grain-free or with grain), Mealworms, Sardines, Or Cheap Hot Dogs = Protein

- Oyster Shells With Calcium = Calcium

- Premium Cleaned Oats =Foodstuffs

DE prevents and eradicates internal parasites (worms) in your flock. Chickens with worms will look sickly and leave poop on their freshly laid eggs, and chickens that aren't wormy will have clean and shiny freshly laid eggs.

Chicken (And Other Fowl) Feed - Part 2

- Grit = Digestion

Grit gives the chicken's stomach (gizzard) a better ability to digest its food. Grit only needs to be given as needed (the chicken is the only one that knows if it needs the grit or not).

The better the feed, the better the quality and quantity of the eggs your hens will produce. Enjoy!

Sources

Picture by Wix Media

Most of this information is by Becky's Homestead on Youtube, and her video link on topic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhzUMC3yLNY&list=WL&index=18&t=197s