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is a 2 year old hen still able to breed?

post #1 of 7
10/19/11 at 2:17am
Thread Starter 

I went out to a farm owned by a guy who was selling Rumpless Araucana pairs they were all over 1.5 years old, it was his breeding stock he was getting rid of to replace with younger birds and he offered to sell me his 2 year old 'prized' breeding hen for a good price and he told me she stills continue to lay about 3-4 eggs per week, I want to purchase her for breeding projects but do a hen's breeding chances decrease by year?

My current flock, Leghorn hen, 2 Lav. Araucana hens, Welsummer rooster, Cochin/RIR hen, 3 Leghorn/Araucana hens and a big fat young Broiler/Araucana cockerel. Past chickens I have owned Araucana rooster(Got stolen), Partridge Cochin rooster(escaped),Broiler hen(yummy dinner!),RIR hen(dead from old age) and many chicks that i hatched out dead from natural cases!

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My current flock, Leghorn hen, 2 Lav. Araucana hens, Welsummer rooster, Cochin/RIR hen, 3 Leghorn/Araucana hens and a big fat young Broiler/Araucana cockerel. Past chickens I have owned Araucana rooster(Got stolen), Partridge Cochin rooster(escaped),Broiler hen(yummy dinner!),RIR hen(dead from old age) and many chicks that i hatched out dead from natural cases!

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post #2 of 7
10/19/11 at 2:41am
Quote:
Originally Posted by MrViskers 

I went out to a farm owned by a guy who was selling Rumpless Araucana pairs they were all over 1.5 years old, it was his breeding stock he was getting rid of to replace with younger birds and he offered to sell me his 2 year old 'prized' breeding hen for a good price and he told me she stills continue to lay about 3-4 eggs per week, I want to purchase her for breeding projects but do a hen's breeding chances decrease by year?


As long as she is laying eggs, they are able to be fertilized.  It's the rooster that deminishes fertility each year until he is no longer fertile, but they should stay fertile until they are at least 3 years old...  smile

www.cloverleafpoultry.webs.com
Large fowl and Bantam Faverolles
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www.cloverleafpoultry.webs.com
Large fowl and Bantam Faverolles
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post #3 of 7
10/19/11 at 2:45am

at that age her eggs would be pretty big too, I always hear small eggs are bad for hatching. My RIR's eggs are twice the size now she's 2 1/2 as opposed to her first 1 1/2 years or so.

Think of eggs like a chicken period. If she's still laying she hasn't reached menopause yet! loltongue

|Explore|Dream|Discover|

Guardian of three bantam hens! Milly (RIR), Esmeralda (EE), BB (EE)

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|Explore|Dream|Discover|

Guardian of three bantam hens! Milly (RIR), Esmeralda (EE), BB (EE)

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post #4 of 7
10/19/11 at 2:57am

Sounds like an excellent opportunity if you like the looks of his birds. Go for it. I have a hen that has to be around six years old now, still laying like crazy. A marans no less, which is supposedly an "iffy" layer breed. Mine lay really well.

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post #5 of 7
10/19/11 at 5:56am

I have a 10 year old rooster who is still very fertile. And yup, as long as shes laying eggs, she can have chickies!

Mother of 5 Nigerian dwarf goats, 2 dogs, 7 chickens from Key West, 1 mottled Aracuana, a lavender Araucana, pair of lavender Ameraucanas,  4 seramas, 1 frizzled naked neck bantam, a BC Marans, a couple of olive egger's, a buff orp mix, 2 silkies, several random mixes,16 year old son, 21 year old daughter and 47 year old DH.
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Mother of 5 Nigerian dwarf goats, 2 dogs, 7 chickens from Key West, 1 mottled Aracuana, a lavender Araucana, pair of lavender Ameraucanas,  4 seramas, 1 frizzled naked neck bantam, a BC Marans, a couple of olive egger's, a buff orp mix, 2 silkies, several random mixes,16 year old son, 21 year old daughter and 47 year old DH.
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post #6 of 7
10/19/11 at 5:58am

Yes she is still in her prime, I would get them if I were you. the hatchings will be fine.

Standard White Cornish, Dark's & White laced Red Cornish Breeder..........If you don't have Cornish you don't have Chickens. Breeding the best, to the best.
As good as a few and better than most, What You'll Tolerate in your flock is what you'll get.
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Standard White Cornish, Dark's & White laced Red Cornish Breeder..........If you don't have Cornish you don't have Chickens. Breeding the best, to the best.
As good as a few and better than most, What You'll Tolerate in your flock is what you'll get.
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post #7 of 7
10/19/11 at 6:15am

I agree.  She is hitting her prime.  The hatching quality of older hens' eggs can decline (not necessarily absolutely will each and every time, but can decline).  Check the first three categories of this link.  They do not limit the problems caused by "Older breeders" to the roosters.  But at 2 years old, she should do fine for at least a couple of more years. 

Florida Incubation Troubleshooting
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/aa204

Freedom is not the right to do what we want, but what we ought....Abraham Lincoln (Freedom carries responsibility)

The spirit of liberty is the spirit which is not too sure that it is right.....Judge Learned Hand  (The more sure your are that your way is the only right way, the more likely you are wrong.)
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Freedom is not the right to do what we want, but what we ought....Abraham Lincoln (Freedom carries responsibility)

The spirit of liberty is the spirit which is not too sure that it is right.....Judge Learned Hand  (The more sure your are that your way is the only right way, the more likely you are wrong.)
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