Why Chickens Begin Laying More Eggs In Spring

If your chickens are like ours, their laying has kicked into overdrive! We are getting three or four times as many eggs now, as we did during the winter months. We have eggs everywhere! I love this time of year, the trees are blooming, my herb garden is growing out of control, and the chickens are so happy.

Do you ever wonder why they begin to lay more in the spring?

There are several different reasons that change laying cycles.

Extra daylight hours is the number one reason why egg production drastically increases during the spring months. Chickens need around fourteen hours of light to produce eggs, and during the winter months, they just don’t get that requirement, unless you supplement their coop with light. We choose not to do this, so that their bodies can rest, the way nature intended it.

Hens will begin laying between 20 and 28 weeks old, depending on their breed. They will reach their peak laying around one year old, and will continue to lay very well through that year. By the time they are three years old, their egg production will drastically decrease, but you will still get several eggs a week from them. During our hens first year, they even laid consistently through the winter. It was great!

Temperature is another huge reason for a drop in egg production. Hens will lay best when the temperatures are over 45 degrees but under 75 degrees. Both extremes will result in the hens body naturally redirects energy to either staying warm or cooling off.

Hens require a quality layer feed and supplemental calcium in order to maintain the nutritional level they need to consistently produce quality eggs. Also, they need a constant supply of fresh, clean water. Even a few hours without access to water can decrease egg production.

Click here to learn more about adding supplemental calcium for your laying hens.

1. Eat them! Make sure to use all those great egg recipes you have been collecting all year long!

I am adding a link-up at the bottom for egg recipes that we love, and I invite you to add a link to your recipes if you have them online somewhere!

2. If you still have too many, try to sell them. At farmer’s markets,

people are asking between $3-$5 for a dozen free-range

 chicken eggs, and duck eggs are even more.

3. Make sure to give some to family, friends, and neighbors.

4. Another option I have seen recently is gifting them to your local food bank.

Eggs are a luxury item that many people do not get very often.

5. Freeze your fresh eggs to use in baking later in the year when they are in short supply. If you

are interested in freezing them, here is a great link explaining the process.