Crazy Chicken Lady

Its true, I am a Crazy Chicken Lady. I love having my ladies and i love getting their eggs. To be honest, that’s why I started having chickens. It was because I am a family of 5 and eggs were getting too expensive. Of course, in the winter months, those slackers make me get eggs from the store. So, let’s talk about winter and chickens. What can chickens eat? What to add to chicken feed? Making chicken food at home and supplementing their feed.

Why do chickens stop laying in the winter? if you are a chicken owner you know it starts to slow down on egg production somewhere in the fall. Typically they are motling and using lots of energy doing that. Then we enter winter and there is the lack of sun and the colder weather. These changes signal their bodies to conserve energy and stay warm rather than continuing to lay eggs.

So is there anything I can do to get them to lay? Sure. You can add lights into their coop to stimulate more sunlight. You can give them more protein rich foods. Making them oatmeal, scrambling them some eggs (yes, I know very cannibalistic), bake some egg shells and crumble that into their food… there are things you can do.

I add herbs into their feed. I get egg layer feed (Payback brand) from my local feed store, I add some 5 grain mix and I add in the herbs. I also supplement with kitchen scraps and try to focus on giving them sprouts, becauase they have less to forage. There are egg laying herbs? Yes, indeed or at least herbs that help support their systems for laying eggs. Adding in crushed oyster shells or crushed egg shells will help with giving them calcium that they need to make eggs.

Now, personally, I don’t do anything to make my chickens lay during the winter. I am all about respecting the season and its their season to take a break. i know I will have them back to laying before Spring and I want to keep my chickens healthy. I continue to do the herbs and add in extras during the winter, just because there is less for them to forage and it gives them something to do. Having some kind of scratch and peck food really helps them during the winter. I have liked the Flock Fresh for bedding in their coop because it gives them something to forage and my chickens have really enjoyed it.

Why do you add in herbs with your chicken feed? It has to do with keeping my ladies healthy. I add in Parsley, Basil, Oregano, Cayenne and chili flakes. Those all seem pretty spicy… fun fact, chickens don’t taste spice (they don’t have the receptors for sweet or spicy), so don’t worry about them burning their beaks. All these herbs either help with immune system and also can help them with making eggs. I definiely notice a difference when I am not adding the herbs in for them. I am always looking for new ways to support my chickens and keep them healthy.

Since i am such a Crazy Chicken Lady and love to make my own blend of chicken feed, I made something to make that easier for everyone. I have my Crazy Chicken Lady Box which has the herbs to add to your feed and chicken themed products. I also have Just the Herbs. Both these are monthly subscription boxes. These boxes help to have the herbs on hand and ready to add to your feed, so its one less thing to remember! These make great gifts for the crazy chicken lady in your life or just people that like chicken gifts.