Storms and chickens

[AJuff]

Do people stagger the age of their hens to ensure they are not left with a load of old maids not laying?

 

Should I be introducing new girls to the flock evey year to stop this scenario?

[Tina C]

I haven't so far but have started to think about this. We lost one of our ex-batts a couple of weeks ago and everyone soon started about whether to get another one or two (or three) to replace her. I decided that, as we have four girls coming up to about 2.5 years old, including 2 ex-batts, perhaps we should wait a while. It is possible we may lose one or more this year and the egg production will fall off after this summer anyway so maybe in about six months....

 

Although I will let my girls have a happy and hopefuly long, retirement, I don't want to have lots of hens in the garden but no eggs.

[Olly]

I am thinking along these lines. My original Omlet girls arrived just over a year ago, and have laid almost without a single day off, since last March.

 

However the ones I adopted in October, which are about a year older, went off lay for about three months over the winter. I really missed the regular supply of eggs.

 

I might add a couple more POL hens this summer, just to keep the supply going. (That's my excuse, anyway! )

[superjules]

That was my plan........I'd love another 2 hybrids, a brown and a blue egg layer, I know I should wait til next year for the reasons you outlined above, but will I be able to resist?

[Egluntyne]

It is something to consider.

 

I thought I might get some blue or green egg layers when some of my girls drop of at the top end.

 

Haven't thought much beyond that though.

[feemcg]

I'm adding all the time