I have been concerned for some time now that there is a lack of light in the chicken run and have wondered if this has contributed to the lack of eggs from the girls. At the moment Topaz is laying one egg a week and Barley is laying one egg every two weeks. Peaches seems to have given up for now and after Sparkle laid her first two eggs of the year she hasn’t laid since which was two and a half weeks ago.
Honey and Amber started laying half way through February last year but haven’t started back this year so far although their combs have become red again. It’s not just about eggs though it’s more that I want the girls to be happy and don’t want the run to be a gloomy place for them.
A few days ago I decided to see what I could do to let more light in. I realised that the corrugated plastic roof over the chicken’s patio area was covered in wet leaves blocking out the light. There are a lot of big trees behind our garden.
I got a step ladder and a broom and decided to try to remove them. I soon found that they wouldn’t brush away as they were sodden and filled the troughs of the corrugated roof. I found that I had to turn the broom side ways and reach out as far I could and pull the leaves along the groove. I then picked them up and put them in a bin bag. It was quite painstaking as I had do each groove one at a time and it was quite an arm aching job. It has made the patio area much lighter though.
The next thing I decided to do was to take the tarpaulin off of the newer part of the run. It hasn’t been successful at keeping this area dry as the rain still blows in and it’s just another layer blocking out some of the light. I also felt that once it was off I could then open up the panels on dry or sunny days to let in more light.
Once I had completed these two jobs I felt the run was much brighter. It may or may not make any difference to egg production but it’s got to be nicer for the girls.
The girls get some apples on their lighter patio area
All the girls pecking at the apples
The run will get more light as the days get longer and hopefully we will get some sunny days. Roll on summer and hopefully more eggs too.
Click here to see the history of my flock.
I have been cleaning my roof today to rid it of conifer needles that are wet and soggy.
Hopefully now the trees have been cut down it won’t be a problem .
I found like you I could not brush them off so held the broom end and used the Handle end in the grooves. It has made such a difference.
I have also hopefully mended the bit in the middle that was leaking . There is still a slight gap but hopefully nothing you bad.
I am expecting now I have struggled to do this that there will be no rain till September !
As for your lack of eggs I am sure they will all get in their stride soon. They like to. Surprise . 🙂
Well done for getting your roof done too and the middle bit patched up. As you say now that the trees are gone from over the back your roof should stay cleaner whereas mine will need doing every year but I will try to remember to do it sooner next time.
I am sure the eggs will come in time. Most of the girls are taking a swirl round in the nest boxes from time to time.
Our bantams are often an enigma when it comes to egg laying. Longer days do seem to bring them into laying condition; some start … and continue, whilst others start, then stop and take some time to start again. 2 of my marans pullets started in November and have been really good producers; the other two have been spasmodic, one of them not laying for about a month, having had a 3-week break before that! Despite looking in excellent condition, they don’t always lay! More eggs will be coming, and better light might help; as you have said often, happy, healthy hens are what we want and the eggs will come, eventually. My original broodies have now returned to normal, but I have 2 more – another blight on egg production!
That’s encouraging to hear because I was a bit surprised that Peaches was laying then stopped. Perhaps it’s just the way with bantys and she will start again when she is ready. As long as they are happy and healthy that is all that matters.
I have the summer to come before I really find out much broodiness there will be.