jennydavies Posted December 31, 2010 Share Posted December 31, 2010 Please don't think I am being smug. This is our first year of hen-keeping so we are still in the very "learning stage". I read about everyone's girls giving up laying for the winter but ours haven't. We have six very happy girlies and every day we are still getting at least four eggs. This week alone we have had three days of six eggs and two days of five eggs. I know the weather down here is very mild in winter and we have sunny days still and no snow but will our girls have a break from laying ? I don't give them anything special to eat - their pellets, a mixture of grains, free-ranging in the garden, tinned sweetcorn (their favourite) and lots of cuddles. They only lost a handful of feathers so far this winter - not what you could call a moult - no bare patches on anyone. Our friends who buy eggs from us are really pleased - I kept saying to them our girls will stop laying soon so I won't have any eggs for you - they are making me look like a fibber I keep turning up with boxes of eggs I don't want our girlies to wear themselves out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted December 31, 2010 Share Posted December 31, 2010 Do you have hybrids? Hybrids will still lay over winter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
migsy Posted December 31, 2010 Share Posted December 31, 2010 Space Chick is right. It tends to be some pure breeds that have a winter break. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted December 31, 2010 Share Posted December 31, 2010 It depends on age too. Last winter my 4 ex batts layed phenomenally well (they would have been 18/20 months approx) but this winter it's a different story, I've had 13 eggs from the four of them this month! So as they get older they will also lay less eggs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soapdragon Posted January 1, 2011 Share Posted January 1, 2011 Hmmmm..there doesn't seem to be any logic to this one! Our three Light Sussex bantams came to us in July as 6/8 weekers and we had given up any hope of eggs before spring. However, two started crouching about 10 days ago and we now have had 5 eggs (in the middle of all this cold weather, if you please!!) and, although 1 is still not laying, we know for certain that 2 are - just getting into the swing of things with an egg every other day. Eggs are weighing in at between 38 and 43g each so far. A real bonus and a lovely Christmas present! Just a shame that we were so eggcited about the first one that we had scrambled and eaten it before we even thought about taking a pic!! Heyho...it was very tasty! Korma Kiev Casserole Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken shack Posted January 1, 2011 Share Posted January 1, 2011 My girls have been laying an egg each most days and it has been -8 at night, and for weeks was not going above -0 all day. So I guess some do lay all winter. They work so hard for us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
migsy Posted January 1, 2011 Share Posted January 1, 2011 Hmmmm..there doesn't seem to be any logic to this one! Our three Light Sussex bantams came to us in July as 6/8 weekers and we had given up any hope of eggs before spring. However, two started crouching about 10 days ago and we now have had 5 eggs (in the middle of all this cold weather, if you please!!) and, although 1 is still not laying, we know for certain that 2 are - just getting into the swing of things with an egg every other day. Eggs are weighing in at between 38 and 43g each so far. Your Light Sussex are the same age as mine and my Ancona. No eggs yet. I live in hope! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
green Posted January 1, 2011 Share Posted January 1, 2011 I've been quite amazed with my two youngsters. I'm getting two eggs most days no matter how cold it gets, but I think it's because they're hybrids and this is their first year of laying. I'm sure I won't be this lucky next year! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie7 Posted January 1, 2011 Share Posted January 1, 2011 I am really proud of my Wyandottes. They are doing great and laying an egg almost everyday, each. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuckmum6 Posted January 1, 2011 Share Posted January 1, 2011 Chickens have a finite number of eggs, how these are laid varies by breed and the hen itself. Hybrids tend to lay theirs up front where as pure breeds lay less per year but lay for more years than hybrids, there are however exceptions to every rule! I have found the rule to be the case with the hybrids and pure breeds I have kept over the years. My current flock are pure breed and with the exception of my marans they have all had a break, the marans are moulting so I am expecting them to reduce what they lay ( no sign yet though)! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jennydavies Posted January 1, 2011 Author Share Posted January 1, 2011 Many thanks for all your replies, it's really helpful in understanding our girlies more. We have two Bluebelles, one Light Sussex, two Warrens (what I call ordinary brown hens) and a multi-colour brown, black, white sort of speckled hen. We love our girlies so much and after watching them while they are laying I really do appreciate how much hard work they put into giving us our eggs. Our girls are very human friendly and don't mind at all if I watch them lay and I always thank them afterwards. They are our little angels, bless. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickyhazel Posted January 3, 2011 Share Posted January 3, 2011 Some of our hybrids are laying every day and some, it seems, only about once a week! Our purebreds (marans) aren't laying at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted January 3, 2011 Share Posted January 3, 2011 Seems to be hit and miss. When we have heard stories of February 14th being around the time the pure breeds start laying again one of my orpies laid a couple and then stopped in the cold spell. We have been eggless since just before Christmas when the silkie went broody again - she had been doing quite well until then. Yesterday I found an egg and it's one of the Pekins - not sure which one although I have my suspicions it was Sadie. So with a bit of luck we are going to start up again. Last year the maran started to lay on the 4th January and the Buff Sussex - who is to be renamed something rude after drawing blood on me just now - stopped for the 2 week Christmas and new year holidays and started up shortly after the maran. I'm just grateful that they haven't read those books. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katieadams Posted January 9, 2011 Share Posted January 9, 2011 Do you have hybrids? Hybrids will still lay over winter Mine blimmin aren't!!!! 3 hybrids who all laid over winter last year (their first year), and two new(ish)bies, one of whom laid for the first 5 days we had her, and no eggs for months now We are in the freezing north-east, and the original 3 all moulted heavily this year, but they are running out of excuses now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catherinedon Posted January 9, 2011 Share Posted January 9, 2011 my light sussex, silkie, maran and araucane all started laying in nov/dEC and most daus sine I get 3 if not 4 eggs WOW still waiting fot the others but my bluebell yest statred crouching Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purplemaniacs Posted January 11, 2011 Share Posted January 11, 2011 Hybrids will still lay over winter Space Chick could you please have a word with my 6, no eggs today, last winter I had to buy eggs. I console myself with the thought that a rest is probably good for them. Chrissie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
