Sooo much pooping

[witzend]

Probably (another!) stupid question but, given that one of the benefits of keeping hens is getting fresh eggs and I've read that some stop laying after 2 years (?), how many years can you expect your chickens to lay and/or do some lay for longer than others??

[Sam]

Pure breeds lay throughout their life, but they stop laying during winter and gradually start laying again as the days get longer. Some hybrids will give you an egg everyday in their first year, but after that they will slow down and eventually stop laying completely, but someone I know were still getting eggs from their 5 year old hybrid, although it was only 1/2 a week

[surfer_chicken]

I just read that as half an egg and got really confused

[Chortle Chook]

I did too

I do hope it is true that pure breeds lay all their life as I was rather expecting to have about 5 years of 7 chooks and no eggs (if Silkies live to be about 10 as someone has tod me). Eggs was not my main reason for getting chooks and if old ladies don't lay, so be it, but if they don't then I really ought to get a couple of chooks each year rather than giving free rein to my Morehens and getting all at once

[Sam]

Sorry, 1 to 2 eggs

and I think it's their whole life if not they will continue to lay longer than a hybrid.

[joybelle]

I started off with four girls from Omlet 4 years ago and then six months later added three more.

Then OH built them a WIR so got three more. Well I used to get fifty plus eggs from them every week

but sadly after a couple of years I lost a couple and then this year three more have died and now I`m lucky

if I get two eggs a day from the five thats left. Time goes so quickly and you do get attached to them, if and

when I get more I dont think I`ll give them names. The oldest girl thats left is 4 and I get an egg from her

every now and then.

 

Joy

[Chortle Chook]

No names?

[Tricky]

check out my Pepperpot on my signature

[Chortle Chook]

Hey, clever Ms Pepperpot