Happy New Year

As 2025 comes to an end, the year’s egg production offers a clear picture of how the flock performed. For most of the year we had 13-15 laying hens, and they produced a total of 1,836 chicken eggs. The two geese contributed 76 eggs during their shorter laying period. These totals reflect a healthy and consistent year overall.

Production followed patterns that align closely with natural seasonal changes. Output increased steadily through late winter and early spring as daylight expanded and temperatures became more moderate. Goose eggs appeared during their usual early spring window and then tapered off. Summer heat brought a noticeable decline in chicken egg production, and late August marked the lowest point of the year.

By early November, the nine younger Buff Orpington, Brahma, and Olive Egger hens that joined the flock in June began laying for the first time. They helped increase production as the year moved toward winter.

As temperatures cooled, the older hens returned to a more stable laying rhythm even while moving through molting season, which often reduces output. Winter conditions slowed production again in December, but the flock still finished the year with strong totals.