Australorps breed Thread

[Gramma Chick]

My advise is to give them a break and let them molt naturally, which means less eggs. Also, the winter months in at least the mid atlantic states means less eggs due to decrease in daylight or someone is lying to you. Your alternative is to use light and burn them out in two to three years along with other health issues, or simply replace all your stock every two years and you will have plenty of eggs!
Kurt

I agree ...dont force them to lay ...let them do it naturally ...as their cycles permit

 

[Birdrain92]

My advise is to give them a break and let them molt naturally, which means less eggs. Also, the winter months in at least the mid atlantic states means less eggs due to decrease in daylight or someone is lying to you. Your alternative is to use light and burn them out in two to three years along with other health issues, or simply replace all your stock every two years and you will have plenty of eggs!
Kurt

I still have great egg production without the need of a light. I have 24 BA pullets and I'm getting 15-22 eggs a day. I have short daylight hours here in Idaho as well.

 

[RattlesnakeRidgeWV]

Birdrain,
That is because you have pullets that always lay well the first year which is eighteen months of age. After that first year they are considered hens and things change. I guarantee you will not have 22 eggs from 24 birds on a regular basis next year! The adult molt and decreasing daylight is the killer of egg production after 18 months of age.
Kurt

 

[nate1the1great1]

I just picked up a trio of BA about 2 weeks ago, and am already in love, these ones are for breeding and showing , since they are really high quality. I got them from a neighbor of the leader of APA district 6 and he is the one that told me how good they were, so they should do well at show... I will get pics tomorrow ..

 

[Clinton 78]

Thanks for the comment about the light. I think I'll lay off of the light to let there bodies do there own thing I was just a little disappointed because I haven't got a single egg since the begainning of November.

 

[RattlesnakeRidgeWV]

Nate, Bring on the pics!
Kurt

 

[bruceha2000]

Birdrain,
That is because you have pullets that always lay well the first year which is eighteen months of age. After that first year they are considered hens and things change. I guarantee you will not have 22 eggs from 24 birds on a regular basis next year! The adult molt and decreasing daylight is the killer of egg production after 18 months of age.
Kurt

What Kurt said

My 7 nearly 7 month old pullets are popping out 4-6 a day (1 isn't laying yet). One White Rock has laid 22 days straight.

Even my "2-3 a week" Cubalayas laid well their first winter. The champs were the Ancona, BA, Partridge Chantecler and EEs. Come their 2nd winter, only 1 BA, 1 PC and 1 Faverolles were steady. Last year the PC laid until December, the BA had moulted mid October, started back up solid on Jan 5. The Anconas laid every few days in November, quit until mid January, laid every few days until mid of February then quit until mid March. Most of the other girls (other than the Cubalayas) started back up mid February.

Forewarned is forearmed, don't expect many eggs NEXT winter unless you get more spring chicks.

 

[Birdrain92]

I'm expecting the egg numbers to tank by next winter. That's why I'm going to start incubating this spring to have a few pullets to keep my egg production from tanking too much.

 

[Greg88]

Good info all,
thanks

 

[bruceha2000]

My 7 nearly 7 month old pullets are popping out 4-6 a day (1 isn't laying yet). One White Rock has laid 22 days straight.

Make that 23

I hope she isn't going to burn herself out!