5-Year-Old Girls Start Laying Again

[gsim]

Last year I had 5 old timers remaining of a flock of 25. They are Barred Plymouth Rock & Black Aussie breeds. They had all quit laying that winter and in early summer we got 5 newbies. They are Barred Plymouth Rock, Black Aussie, Golden Comet, and White Leghorn.

After a successful integration, the newbies started laying within the normal time span, and within some 6 weeks the old gals began to lay again. It was no fluke because they are still at it this year, and beyond 5 yrs age. We go from a high of 9 eggs a day to a low of 4 with the daily average being 7 from our flock which numbers ten.

Does anyone out there know if this is common? One person who lives in this area said she had seen that happen. It blew us away.

 

[Stiggy]

chances are they were going though a rest period like a moult . older hens do still lay, not always as well but the good laying breeds ( like the barred rocks which lay well for a heavy breed) will keep laying until they slowly start to wind down, usually the first 4 years are the best for hens to lay ( the ones that arnt genetically altered to lay and lay then die eg a shaver or hyline)