Warm boot recommendations please

[Larkie]

I've had my hens for 8 weeks (bought at point of lay) and so far not a sausage, never mind an egg!

 

I spoke to the breeder and she told me they need 14 hours of daylight to lay. I know she shoudl know what she's talking about but surely if that was the case no-one would get any eggs for the majority of the year. Does anyone have any views. Do I need to put a light in their run?

[Egluntyne]

She is right about them needing light. I'm not sure about 14 hours though.

 

The days will start lengthen soon and then they will lay regularly.

 

I wouldn't bother with the faff of putting a light in the run if it was me.

[jomaxsmith]

If you've got hybrids they should lay more or less all year round but may start to lay later if they are POL at this time of year (or so I've been told). My 21 week old hybrids are not laying yet but my 24 week old has been laying for the last 5 weeks.

 

Pure breeds give up laying for winter, I think!

 

Jo

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I'd heard the 14 hour daylight thing too.

 

Two of mine have just started laying (at 27 weeks old) - one's a hybrid, one's a purebreed. They're certainly not getting 14 hours daylight, more like 7 or 8 if they're lucky but are still managing more or less an egg a day each.

 

The other (hybrid) laid 10 eggs in Sept/Oct then stopped.

 

Judging by people's experiences on here, each hen is different and you just have to wait and see .

[Jules.]

i'm still getting 2 eggs a day

mine started laying at the end of May

[Olly]

i'm still getting 2 eggs a day

 

Same here, from my original girls who are just about a year old (POL in February when delivered). But my adoptee chickens, who are getting on for 2 years old, are laying one egg every other day between three of them! One is moulting, and I think one of the gingernuts is broody - I think they deserve a rest, so I'm just going to let nature take its course with them.

[Richard]

I wouldn't mess about with a light.

 

My young girls (which means all of them except evil Georgina) are getting towards as old as yours, and only Daisy has started to lay (she started last Thursday). the others are nowhere near.

 

What are their combs and wattles like - and are they talking to you? I've found that when they are near to lay their combs get big and red, as do their wattles, and they start to talk to you a lot.

 

That's what mine have done in the past anyway.

 

this time of year is bad - its winter and its autumn moult time. Georgie hasn't laid for a couple of months - and for the rest of the year she's a 6 eggs a week girl, but in the autumn she loses feathers and stops laying for quite a time.

[lozkate]

Check out the signature below. Two of mine have been laying the other two have yet to start. You'll see the dates (I can't remember as I type!).

 

The wierd thing is we have two identical Sussex's (bought same day, looked the same, same age). One's started laying the other hasn't. The other layer (variety not yet fully established given the blue egg situation but Maran for ease) is banging out 1 a day. The bluebelle thinks she's a dog and will probably start retrieving and walking nicely on the lead soon.

 

If this was a scientific paper the conclusion would read:

 

"I wish i'd never started to type this up"

 

I hope that leaves you fully informed as to The Laying Habits of Northern Hemishpere, temperate climate, domestic poulrty through the winter months. I know its not right to effectively close a valuable thread like this with such a definitive and erudite response but I feel its fully justified.

 

All enquiries should be directed to the Natural History and Black Pudding Museum, Heckmondwike.

 

I should NOT drink Stella.

 

Loz