andynjanec Posted September 19, 2010 Share Posted September 19, 2010 Chicks will be 18 weeks at the end of October. Will they lay this year, do they always start laying at 18 weeks? will they wait until easter? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
figarogir1 Posted September 19, 2010 Share Posted September 19, 2010 Hopefully they will start laying before Easter but not neccessarily at 18 weeks It depends on the breed and individual hen. Some don't start until they are about 30 weeks and I think most hybrids are more like 20-24 weeks. I am sure someone more knowledgable will be along soon but as far as I know that is right Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
docsquid Posted September 19, 2010 Share Posted September 19, 2010 Last year I got my hybrids at the same time and they all started to lay in November - I got eggs all through the winter although they had the odd day off. This summer it has been one egg a day from each chicken. I guess they will moult and go off lay soon, but they started laying at about 20 weeks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thalia Posted September 19, 2010 Share Posted September 19, 2010 I've been wondering the same thing about my two new ones. They're pure breeds and about 16 weeks old, so is it possible that they won't lay until spring? I've been told they won't moult this year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mercedes55 Posted September 19, 2010 Share Posted September 19, 2010 I've been wondering the same thing about my two new ones. They're pure breeds and about 16 weeks old, so is it possible that they won't lay until spring? I've been told they won't moult this year. I've also got some pure breeds that are 16wks old and have been told they may not lay till next Spring. Seems a long time to wait Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chriss Posted September 19, 2010 Share Posted September 19, 2010 It depends on the breed - hybrid egg layers will lay all through winter with the right feed/state of health. I'm not an expert on pure breeds but it was common for hens in the old days to not lay much in winter, that is why easter is all about eggs! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sezra Posted September 19, 2010 Share Posted September 19, 2010 It depends on the breed - hybrid egg layers will lay all through winter with the right feed/state of health. I'm not an expert on pure breeds but it was common for hens in the old days to not lay much in winter, that is why easter is all about eggs! I never realised that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mercedes55 Posted September 21, 2010 Share Posted September 21, 2010 It depends on the breed - hybrid egg layers will lay all through winter with the right feed/state of health. I'm not an expert on pure breeds but it was common for hens in the old days to not lay much in winter, that is why easter is all about eggs! I never realised that! Neither did I Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted September 21, 2010 Share Posted September 21, 2010 Most hybrids will start to lay around 20 weeks of age, give or take a week or three. If they hatched after May this year, then the shortening daylight hours mean that they might well not lay before Christmas, but should start up towards the end of January, depending on the weather and amount of daylight we get. This rule is especially true of pure breeds. My pure breed bantams will usually stop laying around now when they start to moult and start producing eggs again around mid-January. I don't usually expect late-hatched pullets to produce eggs before Christmas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..lay a little egg for me Posted September 21, 2010 Share Posted September 21, 2010 My new girls started laying last week (around 20 weeks of age) but two of them (the columbines) have either stopped again or are hiding their eggs extremely well. Is it usual for them to stop for a week or so after starting lay? Or have they stopped for winter? The bluebelle is still laying though... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C&T Posted September 21, 2010 Share Posted September 21, 2010 One of our laid her first egg on Christmas Day - and then kept going all winter. So don't give up hope of eggs in winter from a Hybrid at least - might just take a while!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted September 21, 2010 Share Posted September 21, 2010 My new girls started laying last week (around 20 weeks of age) but two of them (the columbines) have either stopped again or are hiding their eggs extremely well. Is it usual for them to stop for a week or so after starting lay? Or have they stopped for winter? The bluebelle is still laying though... It is common to not lay for a couple of days when they first start off, but a gap of a week is longer than I'd expect. Have you checked to see if they are laying around the garden? I'd also worm them with Flubenvet if you haven't already done so. Be sure that 95% of their diet consists of their layers pellets or mash, feed very little treats and only at the end of the day. See how you get on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
green Posted September 22, 2010 Share Posted September 22, 2010 I've just realised that if I get my chooks this late (I only got my eglu this week), I might not get any eggs until Christmas time or next year. Not sure of the best plan of action now, should I get some hybrids as soon as possible or leave getting the chooks until next spring? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted September 22, 2010 Share Posted September 22, 2010 It depends on the age and type of birds you are getting TBH. Hybrids at point of lay will produce soon, but pure breed pullets may not lay this side of Christmas depending on their age when you buy them. I tend to buy any new stock in the spring just so that I can spend more time in the longer days out with them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thelurch Posted September 22, 2010 Share Posted September 22, 2010 It depends on the breed - hybrid egg layers will lay all through winter with the right feed/state of health. I'm not an expert on pure breeds but it was common for hens in the old days to not lay much in winter, that is why easter is all about eggs! Sorry but Easter eggs are not given because hens only started re laying around Easter time! Easter eggs are around because eggs are a symbol of new life and thus a religious sign of Jesus being resurrected as a new life. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted September 22, 2010 Share Posted September 22, 2010 I've just realised that if I get my chooks this late (I only got my eglu this week), I might not get any eggs until Christmas time or next year. Not sure of the best plan of action now, should I get some hybrids as soon as possible or leave getting the chooks until next spring? You could perhaps see if you could rehome some exbatts. They should provide you with eggs pretty much right away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted September 22, 2010 Share Posted September 22, 2010 Easter eggs are around because eggs are a symbol of new life and thus a religious sign of Jesus being resurrected as a new life. Or could be something to do with Eostar (or Oestara), the Saxon goddess of fertility, whose festival is held on the Spring Equinox and symbols are the hare and egg. I am not expecting any eggs from Maisie this year, as she will be 20 weeks on 2nd November. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted September 22, 2010 Share Posted September 22, 2010 Or could be something to do with Eostar (or Oestara), the Saxon goddess of fertility, whose festival is held on the Spring Equinox and symbols are the hare and egg. I am not expecting any eggs from Maisie this year, as she will be 20 weeks on 2nd November. That sounds more likely to me Claire as Oestara is the name for the vernal equinox, which is on 21st March; a fixed date rather than the Gregorian easter, which is a moving feast. It is likely to have pre-dated christianity. At least then if she does lay, you will be pleasantly surprised. I bought some new stock roughly this time of the year in 2009, I didn't expect any eggs form them before February at the earliest, but one of them surprised me with a birthday egg on new year's day Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
