As the winter season approaches, farmers raising Layer Hens for fresh egg production are encouraged to prepare key management aspects of their operations to maintain production capacity throughout the winter. 

The winter season naturally affects egg production due to shorter daylight hours, which signals hens to rest. During this period, hens also require more energy to keep warm. 

The winter season has several adverse effects on layer hens, such as reduced egg production causing hens naturally to reduce or stop laying eggs as days shorten. Their bodies prioritise warmth and energy conservation over reproduction. 

Increased Feed Consumption: This is due to the reduction in foraging options, such as bugs and greens, amongst others. Moreover, hens burn more calories to maintain body temperature. 

Health Risks: Extreme cold can lead to frostbite on combs and wattles if the coop is damp or drafty.

Farmers can implement several management strategies to ensure consistent egg production during the winter months. A first step would be to introduce artificial lights in the chicken coop to ensure the hens have access to 16 hours of light daily. 

The main way a hen ‘senses’ light is through a gland located on her head called the pineal gland. The pineal gland is very sensitive to light and controls most of the hen’s hormonal behaviours, including laying and broodiness. 

A hen must sense sufficient light for an adequate period to trigger a hen’s laying cycle. The winter months are often characterised by shorter daylight hours, implying that a chicken’s pineal gland will not sense enough light to maintain an active reproductive system through the winter months. 

In general, a hen needs 12 to 16 hours of light to produce eggs consistently. In regions where winter temperatures drop to about 6 °C or lower, farmers can also install solar-powered infrared heat bulbs to maintain a warm temperature of about 28 °C in the coop. 

This will aid in minimising a hen’s usage of feed to generate heat and in maintaining egg production.

The second consideration would be ensuring that the water in the chicken coop does not freeze. In many operations, dehydration is a common cause of reduced egg production. 

Therefore, during the winter months, farmers are urged to ensure that the hens have access to adequate room-temperature water to keep them hydrated. This will help farmers in maintaining egg production during the winter months.

Another preparatory measure is to keep the coop environment dry, well-ventilated and free of moisture to prevent ammonia build-up and frostbite. Hens should be kept in a clean, dry environment with a room temperature of about 28 °C to minimise their exposure to cold, harsh conditions. 

Cold coops often cause cold stress, leading to reduced egg production. Consequently, hens affected by cold stress consume more feed to generate energy and keep warm. It is therefore advisable that farmers increase the daily recommended feed intake for each layer hen from 110 grams to 130 grams of layer mash during winter. Additionally, the coops must be equipped with canvas rolldown curtains on the side to keep out cold winds and help maintain a warm environment in the coops.

If the measures above are implemented in a timely and appropriate manner, farmers can maintain good egg production rates and ensure their hens remain productive throughout winter. 

Finally, farmers are advised to rear the Lohmann layer hen breed, as it adapts well to Namibia’s various climatic zones.

 *Hanks Saisai is Agribank’s technical advisor on crops and poultry.