Phyllis and Ethal both laid eggs yesterday!!! Phyllis is the lighter colour of the two Warrens, and lays very pale eggs, Ethal darker. As the day length shortens towards Winter, they may stop laying until Spring, or they may not. Hybrids can continue to lay all through the Winter months, but pure breeds tend to stop. Some chicken keepers hang artifical lighting in the coop to promote extra lighting, but a lot of non-commercial keepers see Winter as a time when the birds can have a rest from laying eggs. I think I am just going to let nature take it’s course. If they lay, they lay. If they don’t, well Spring is only just around the corner.

The Marans and Silkies are pure breeds, and should come into lay in Spring. They won’t lay as many eggs as the Warrens, but maybe that’s just as well, as if they did, I could have six eggs every day!

We had our first ground frost today. It is below freezing at the moment, so I suppose I’ll have lots of clearing of dead plants to do over the next few days. On a positive note though, the parsnips will be getting sweeter! Yum!