Mrs

[AJuff]

[ruth1]

Since mine havent started laying yet I hope is not soon

[Egluntyne]

Apparently they need 14 hours of daylight to lay.

 

Once the days shorten to less than this they will stop.

 

That will be round about the time the clocks change, or a little later.

[MadMitch]

I read in one of my chicken books that they stop around bonfire night and start around valentines day. Don't know how right it is though.

[Snowy]

Mine stopped 2 months ago, had a moult and has started laying again! I wonder if she will continue through winter or have another break

[Helen&Lee]

Last year one of my Pure breeds came into lay at the beginning of October and continued to lay about every other day throughout the winter.

The other purebreds, obviously a few weeks younger, started laying at the beginning of February.

[Nuggywoo]

My last lot of pure breds stopped laying about September time, started again in mid October and carried on all through winter till the angels wanted them

My new Beauties are all over the place... but as they're only 7mths old I'll let them freeload - they deserve it.

 

All pure breeds are different and I 'spose it depends on their age too.

[Janty]

I have read that brahmas can lay through the Winter. Also, my cochin, Scary Spice started laying last January and hasn't realy stopped.

[farmerJules]

Since mine havent started laying yet I hope is not soon

 

 

I never realised pure breds stopped laying in winter...im so stupid ...awww, and i had my heart set on 3 pure bred light sussex....I wanted proper large fowl rather than skinny hybrids....oh what to do!!!

[mostin]

I inherited a light sussex and I hadn't thought of that. Will she stop laying soon, she's my best gal

 

You old timers on here must really have a giggle at us newbies somtimes

[Snowy]

I inherited a light sussex and I hadn't thought of that. Will she stop laying soon, she's my best gal

 

You old timers on here must really have a giggle at us newbies somtimes

I must admit some 'mistakes' do crop up on a regular basis, but don't worry, we've all been there

She might have some time off through winter, but hopefully she will continue laying for more years than the hybrids!

[mostin]

Thanks for that Snowy, I don't mind her having time off but my OH is already shouting "korma" or "caserole", everytime he walks past Priscilla who has taken a small break for a mini-moult.

 

He's only teasing but it took me 2 years of nagging to get my chicks so I wish they'd cut down on the freeloading for a bit untill he's really fallen for them

[new chick]

Oh

 

My pure breed not started yet

They are 27 and 25 weeks.

 

My vet did tell me they may not lay until next summer.....

Love them so will wait.

 

ps. I don't even eat eggs. but would like to boast in the village about my free range pure breed eggs .

 

Not .....

 

NC

[Cinnamon]

My PB girls have slowed down to an egg every other day already.

 

Pure breeds are lovely,but the no eggs over the winter thing is a pain,which is why I will always have some hybrids in my flock

[farmerJules]

My PB girls have slowed down to an egg every other day already.

 

Pure breeds are lovely,but the no eggs over the winter thing is a pain,which is why I will always have some hybrids in my flock

 

 

is it the fact that the daylight houres are insufficient or do they just take a rest!!

 

maybe i could rig up somelights!!!

[Snowy]

My PB girls have slowed down to an egg every other day already.

 

Pure breeds are lovely,but the no eggs over the winter thing is a pain,which is why I will always have some hybrids in my flock

 

 

is it the fact that the daylight houres are insufficient or do they just take a rest!!

 

maybe i could rig up somelights!!!

 

It is the lack of daylight that slows them down - that's why battery farms have extra lighting through winter!

Although pure breeds will lay less than hybrids anyway. I think the rest does them good - they are less prone to health problems associated with their laying tackle than hybrids are.

[Gallina]

I have come around to the idea that it is unkind to expect a poor hen to lay nearly every day of the year, when in nature she would have a clutch in the spring and that would be it.

 

I have three hybrids in their third year now, and they are looking old, especially the one who must have laid 750 eggs for me.

 

The question is really whether you have the hens for eggs or as pets. I started off by wanting eggs, but now I just want hens. Pure breeds live a more natural life and don't burn themselves out like hybrids.

 

My pure breeds laid on and off throughout last winter. The secret is to have a lot of hens.

[Maccbean]

Oh I do hope my Legbars lay me at least one egg before they stop for the winter, as their blue eggs were the reason I wanted chickens in the first place!

[farmerJules]

I have come around to the idea that it is unkind to expect a poor hen to lay nearly every day of the year, when in nature she would have a clutch in the spring and that would be it.

 

I have three hybrids in their third year now, and they are looking old, especially the one who must have laid 750 eggs for me.

 

The question is really whether you have the hens for eggs or as pets. I started off by wanting eggs, but now I just want hens. Pure breeds live a more natural life and don't burn themselves out like hybrids.

 

My pure breeds laid on and off throughout last winter.The secret is to have a lot of hens

 

 

...........................................

 

 

 

Dont tempt me...no....no... three it is....three it is.....three it is

 

 

thanks for the info...i really want them as pets but am becoming fond of the thought of eggs eggs eggs

[Milly]

Maybe it depends on the breed? My Frisian didn't start laying until the end of November and has laid ever since. She doesn't lay every day (usually alternate days, or two days on one day off). The Legbar started last September and kept up through the winter too - also not every day, but enough!

 

Whereas the Pepperpot has had two broody breaks of approx 4 weeks at a time!

 

Milly

[mostin]

Well just to let you all know I broke the news to my OH that Lillian probably wouldn't be laying for much longer until Feb. He's obviously fallen for the chicks much harder than I thought as he just picked her up for a cuddle and said "Never mind, she's been a real trouper so far, she deserves a break" I suppose I should have given him more credit.

 

He also suprised me when we were showing off our new flock to some friends yesterday and someone commented on the fact that they "only" layed "one" egg a day.

 

My OH answered quite crossly "Do you know how hard it is to lay an egg?"

 

I think I've won my battle and they are definitely his girls too now

[Christian]

I got 3 pure breeds last year in November. They were 28 weeks old. They laid all through Winter.

 

As they have started moulting I am getting less eggs now, but they are fundamentally pets, the eggs are a bonus.

 

The two new girls I picked up yesterday are 11 weeks old, so don't think they will lay until the Spring.

[superjules]

It does depend on the breed, Bossy the wyandotte is a superb layer, but Yum-yum the pekin and Bumble the Plymouth rock have both shut up shop since I fit a timer on the door of the henhouse last month. They are now kept in until just after 8am, so they're getting less than 12 hours light.

[piptiddlepip]

Mine are giving an egg a day each, still. They're hybrids, but I guess it's the same for all chooks?

 

I thought they slowed down in the winter, but didn't quite stop?

[mrs chook]

Yikes! My Light Sussex is just on the verge of starting to lay, just my luck if her system 'shuts down' in a few weeks for winter!