Quote:
Pet Rock,
My first group from Mt. Healthy began laying (very sporadically) at 20 weeks (around August 1st). They gradually ramped up production for the next 6 weeks, and then after the middle of October they all but stopped. They really didn't ever take their job seriously. Adding apple cider vinegar to their water helped a bit. Switching roosters helped some too. I've recently put them in the coop so I could give them extra light. That's helping some too.
My second group, just two pullets from McMurray, are 28 weeks old. Weren't even thinking about laying until I put them in the coop with additional lights and now just one of them is starting to redden up. In contrast, my Dorkings from the same hatch date have just begun laying.
So from my observations POL will depend on what time of year they hatched and if they reach sexual maturity before the days get really short. 5 or 6 months minimum, possibly much longer. Is that normal for the breed? Haven't a clue. Just what I've experienced. It's been frustrating. My birds certainly aren't the victors of the egg trials that sellers of the breed like to trot out as illustrative of the productivity of the SS.
Pet Rock,
My first group from Mt. Healthy began laying (very sporadically) at 20 weeks (around August 1st). They gradually ramped up production for the next 6 weeks, and then after the middle of October they all but stopped. They really didn't ever take their job seriously. Adding apple cider vinegar to their water helped a bit. Switching roosters helped some too. I've recently put them in the coop so I could give them extra light. That's helping some too.
My second group, just two pullets from McMurray, are 28 weeks old. Weren't even thinking about laying until I put them in the coop with additional lights and now just one of them is starting to redden up. In contrast, my Dorkings from the same hatch date have just begun laying.
So from my observations POL will depend on what time of year they hatched and if they reach sexual maturity before the days get really short. 5 or 6 months minimum, possibly much longer. Is that normal for the breed? Haven't a clue. Just what I've experienced. It's been frustrating. My birds certainly aren't the victors of the egg trials that sellers of the breed like to trot out as illustrative of the productivity of the SS.
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