Raising chickens is fun for the whole family. Kids especially love collecting fresh eggs.
Do your chickens lay a lot less during the cold winter months? Are you wondering if there is anything you can do about it? Well the good news is you can speed up your chickens’ laying in the old winter months. When looking at chicken coop designs or designing your own hen house you should keep some things in mind.
Laying is usually at it’s peak during the spring and summer months when the days are long. Chickens typically lay an egg 3 or 4 days in a row and then take a day off. The cycle then starts all over again. As winter comes and the days get shorter a hen’s laying cycle will take longer and longer. More light exposure equals more egg production. So to prevent egg laying from slowing down in the winter months it is vital you keep a warmer coop and a coop with plenty of light.
When selecting the location of your chicken coop, you should choose a sunny location that is not prone to flooding. You want a location that drains well. Chickens don’t like to stand in mud or water for periods of time.
Chicken Coop Designs for Cold Climates
If you live in a colder climate then look at hen houses made for a colder climate or tweak a chicken coop design to accommodate your colder climate. Installing lights in your chicken coop will provide your hens with light on darker days and will keep their egg production going. This light will also provide warmth to your chickens on cold days and nights. Even two simple light bulbs can make a difference. If you live in an especially cold area you buy an inexpensive heating lamp to keep chickens warm on really cold days.
Chickens are remarkable hardy animals and are suitable to most climates, if cared for properly and provided with adequate housing and light chickens can lay eggs throughout the winter.