Newsflash… laying hens need to be comfortable and productive to maintain profitability at any scale of operation. Click this fact sheet from UMaine Extension: Bulletin #2217, Winter Care of Your Laying Hens

Some of the most important management factors to keep your winter flock laying include:

1. Making the transition to supplemental lighting to maintain 15-16 hours of light per day (1 60 watt incandescent/13 watt compact fluorescent will cover 200 square feet). If have not done this by December, you are behind schedule. Specialists advise to increase light by 15-20 min each week  to phase light back in slowly.
2. Keeping birds warm. Production declines below 55 d F. Managers should consider supplemental heat and also make sure the ration supplies enough energy and nutrition to compensate for the birds biological transitions with colder conditions.
3. Never forget clean (NOT FROZEN) water, draft reductions, proper ventilation and sanitation.

Click this fact sheet from UMaine Extension: Bulletin #2217, Winter Care of Your Laying Hens