Cinnamon Posted June 17, 2008 Share Posted June 17, 2008 Right,I am in the market for a couple of new hens,but need ones that will lay over winter. I know this generally means a hybrid,but I have a Welsummer on hold,& have been told that they are good winter layers. At the moment I have 2 Hybrids,one who is laying twice a week only. I also have a Light Sussex,a Cream Legbar & a French Maran - does anyone know if these are good winter layers or not? I definitly want to add a White Star to the flock, along with possibly 2 other hens,but want to ensure that I am getting a few eggs a week over the winter months. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beach chick Posted June 17, 2008 Share Posted June 17, 2008 when I got my leghorn and maran last week, the breeder told me the leghorns lay over 300 eggs per year, and the marans about 200.... dont know if that helps? last winter my bluebells were much more consistent than my sussexes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superjules Posted June 17, 2008 Share Posted June 17, 2008 I'd love a Welsummer Sarah, but I thought that the darker the eggs, the less you'll get, particularly over winter. For that reason, a light sussex may be a better bet for you. As always, I could be wrong though!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..lay a little egg for me Posted June 17, 2008 Share Posted June 17, 2008 My neighbours have welsummers and complain that they didn't lay all winter until about April!! Mind you their girls are not so young as they once were...I think that not all hybrids lay over winter either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted June 17, 2008 Author Share Posted June 17, 2008 I already have the Light Sussex Jules Maybe I will go for the Welsummer plus 2 Hybrids........................ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helen&Lee Posted June 17, 2008 Share Posted June 17, 2008 I'm looking at getting a couple more chooks too. The book / internet I was reading at the weekend suggested that Welsummers will lay throughout the winter - but what about a Speckledy? Are they Maran/Welsummer cross? From what I read they are a Hybrid so should lay in the winter (shouldn't they??).... and they lay dark brown eggs. Now bearing in mind it was late at night when I was reading - don't take my word as gospel! Helen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura & CTB Posted June 17, 2008 Share Posted June 17, 2008 I have a sussex hybrid and and amber star - the amber star has layed practically every day since she started laying including all through the winter. Sussex star a bit less though. Since first egg day on Nov 29th 2006 todays will be egg numbers 966 & 967 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenanne Posted June 17, 2008 Share Posted June 17, 2008 As everyone has said, the light sussex should lay well over the winter. I can't say for the others, though! Pure breeds will still lay over the winter depending on the type (e.g.... light sussex, rhode island red, etc etc). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..lay a little egg for me Posted June 17, 2008 Share Posted June 17, 2008 I'm looking at getting a couple more chooks too. The book / internet I was reading at the weekend suggested that Welsummers will lay throughout the winter - but what about a Speckledy? Are they Maran/Welsummer cross? From what I read they are a Hybrid so should lay in the winter (shouldn't they??).... and they lay dark brown eggs. Now bearing in mind it was late at night when I was reading - don't take my word as gospel! Helen I thought speckledys were maran/RIR? no? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted June 17, 2008 Author Share Posted June 17, 2008 I am afraid I am not a fan of grey hens Helen, & I have had a Speckledy already too OK, so if my Amber star,Light Sussex & Daisy Belle are laying over winter, then I reckon a Welsummer is on the cards Which is great,as I really like the look & the colouring of them And then I am 100% about a White Star,as I miss little Lily so much & the white eggs are divine. So thats me sorted then. No telling what I will come back with though (I know my breeder wants me to have a Barnvelder as he knows I love them ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superjules Posted June 17, 2008 Share Posted June 17, 2008 Sorry Sarah - didn't read your post properly, obviously!! So it's a welsummer, a white star and another hybrid? Sounds good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phosphorus Posted June 17, 2008 Share Posted June 17, 2008 White stars lay about 320 eggs a year so I think you are guaranteed a winter layer of beautiful white eggs there. Not had mine long enough but my parents' neighbours have one and she is their most consistant layer (wish mine was - think she is having a day off today ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bellekatz Posted June 17, 2008 Share Posted June 17, 2008 My white star was a STAR last winter - the only one I could count on! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted June 17, 2008 Author Share Posted June 17, 2008 Yes,my Lily was a top layer too - in fact my second hybrid might just be another Whitestar,giving me 2 in the flock. They are so sweet - wonder if I will be able to tell them apart though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted June 17, 2008 Share Posted June 17, 2008 Barnevelders are gorgeous - we have a breeder just up the road who has loads of them. Not sure if they lay through the winter though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tottya Posted June 17, 2008 Share Posted June 17, 2008 im looking for some good winter layers too looking at the omlet breeds section i cant find a white star listed are they also named something else?? Sam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Milly Posted June 17, 2008 Share Posted June 17, 2008 I'm maybe a bit late, but my Gold Legbar and Frisian both laid through the winter - the Frisian didn't start laying at all until the end of November, when I had almost given up. Not every day (maybe 3 or 4 a week), but then they still don't lay every day now it's almost mid-summer. And my Omlet two laid virtually every day (apart from when the pepperpot was broody - and she is broody again now). So I think it's down to luck in many cases. Milly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted June 18, 2008 Author Share Posted June 18, 2008 im looking for some good winter layers too looking at the omlet breeds section i cant find a white star listed are they also named something else?? Sam Sam,they are a Meadowsweet hen,& are named ,star, like many of their hens. They are also called a White Ranger, Little Ballerina & other names. Look up the Meadowsweet site on Google to find an outlet near to you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted June 18, 2008 Share Posted June 18, 2008 Where are you going to get your new chickens Cinnamon? I would love a barnevelder, I think they look lovely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted June 18, 2008 Author Share Posted June 18, 2008 I go away for the last week of July,so Simon at The Garden Hen is keeping the Welsummer & a Barnvelder for me until the beginning of August. I am wanting a White Star too, but the logistics of geting them all so they arrive at the same time is a nightmare. The Garden Hen (Simon) is in Windsor, & the Hybrids will come from Wycombe,Banbury or Leatherhead - so it will be a long days driving for me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted June 18, 2008 Share Posted June 18, 2008 Ah, I see. Didn't think 'our friend' Ron had Barnevelders! Would have smuggled one out otherwise! Shame, as you could have popped in! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
