“Foundations in Farming and Homesteading + Pastured Laying Hens” on BrightU: Why your hens stop laying eggs in winter and how to keep them producing
Three factors can reduce egg production: declining daylight, the hen’s age and molting cycle and physical stress from cold, wetness and drafts.
Daylight plays a major role: strategically timing when pullets begin laying can help offset the seasonal decline in egg production without relying on artificial lighting.
Maturity and molting matter: hens typically molt around 12 months and the timing of that molt can significantly affect production. Salatin favors keeping hens through multiple laying cycles and gradually culling older birds.
Cold can consume the energy needed for eggs: during one winter experiment, Salatin’s chickens produced “zero eggs” because so much of their feed energy was being used to maintain body temperature.
Proper winter management can protect production: Strategic flock timing, seasonal culling and shelter that prevents cold, wetness and drafts can help hens continue laying by working with their natural cycles rather than forcing production.
Read Full Article: https://www.naturalnews.com/2026-09-22-hens-stop-laying-eggs-winter-keep-them-producing.html
