The egg carton is full again!

As the length of winter days dwindle, so goes the egg production. At or about the time of the winter solstice (December 21) the number of eggs found in the hen house drops to zilch, and remains at that level for up to two weeks.  This is a very inconvenient timing as holiday cooking and baking increases the need for eggs!

Artificial light may be used to encourage continued egg laying, but we don't routinely use it. There's no source for electricity at the barn. Unless temperatures drop severely, to the point of requiring heat in the coop, we don't fool with running extension cords.

After the first week or two of January, eggs are back on the menu. This year, the Ameraucanas were the first to resume laying. The Dominiques were not far behind. Then the young red sex links began laying their first eggs. Their eggs are a rich, chocolate-brown. Combined with the light-brown eggs of the Dominiques and the blue-green eggs of the Ameraucanas ... the color palatte is quite lovely!