Barnevelder breeders lets work together and improve the breed

[egay]

Not sure this is the appropriate place to post but we adopted some not quite year old Barnevalders. We are in the Seattle area, so it's been getting chilly. They laid every other day in the spring and stopped to molt around august. We haven't had an egg since. Is it normal for them to take this long to begin laying again? We added some new chicks in the spring as well and they've been laying for a few week. I just felt like 3 months off laying might be long but I'm very new to chickening.

 

[impis]

We have 3 different types of hen, plus a barnvelder cockerel. The hens differ greatly in the amount of time that they take to complete the moult and start laying again. The Light sussex usually starts laying again within 6 weeks or so. The welsummer, on the other hand, takes much longer - last year it was several months before she began laying again. Try to be patient. It takes a great deal of energy to produce the protein that creates feathers. Your hens will lay again - just give them time.

 

[tls_ranch]

Not sure this is the appropriate place to post but we adopted some not quite year old Barnevalders. We are in the Seattle area, so it's been getting chilly. They laid every other day in the spring and stopped to molt around august. We haven't had an egg since. Is it normal for them to take this long to begin laying again? We added some new chicks in the spring as well and they've been laying for a few week. I just felt like 3 months off laying might be long but I'm very new to chickening.

The shorter winter days are probably the reason for not starting back up laying. Older hens that have moulted in fall may need added artificial light to start laying again through winter. First year pullets tend to lay through the winter without added light. Your older hens will probably start up laying once the days start getting longer again.

 

[egay]

Thanks to you both. I'm happy to hear that this can be normal. I just wanted to make sure there was nothing I might be missing. They seem healthy to me, but I know there can be a number of things that can cause them not to lay as well.

 

[egay]

The shorter winter days are probably the reason for not starting back up laying. Older hens that have moulted in fall may need added artificial light to start laying again through winter. First year pullets tend to lay through the winter without added light. Your older hens will probably start up laying once the days start getting longer again.

Can you tell me a little more about the light? I have read differing opinions. Is it harmful to disrupt their natural cycles? Their roost and nesting boxes are up above their run. Would we just put the light up above? How long do you leave it on?

 

[tls_ranch]

The shorter winter days are probably the reason for not starting back up laying. Older hens that have moulted in fall may need added artificial light to start laying again through winter. First year pullets tend to lay through the winter without added light. Your older hens will probably start up laying once the days start getting longer again.

Can you tell me a little more about the light? I have read differing opinions. Is it harmful to disrupt their natural cycles? Their roost and nesting boxes are up above their run. Would we just put the light up above? How long do you leave it on?

I don't have lights in my coop. I just let the " old" hens start up again in the spring naturally. I usually have a mix of ages in my flock, so the pullets or first year hens do most of the winter laying for eating eggs.

Adding light is a common practice in winter. I believe there are many, many good threads on ways to provide light here on the BYC. I just haven't looked into it. I normally hatch several times a year and have a good mix of ages in my flock so that I can have eating eggs all year long.

 

[KPenley]

Especially for Trisha-
We just got back from our first show and had a little surprise from our Barnevelder pullet, hatched from your shipping eggs (all the way from CA to SC!!!)...



My DS showed Lily in the Junior Show and the judges loved her...loved her so much they gave her this...


I think she was supposed to be in the Continental Class, but oh well, she beat them too! Thank you!

 

[chicksnthestiks]

Especially for Trisha- We just got back from our first show and had a little surprise from our Barnevelder pullet, hatched from your shipping eggs (all the way from CA to SC!!!)... My DS showed Lily in the Junior Show and the judges loved her...loved her so much they gave her this... I think she was supposed to be in the Continental Class, but oh well, she beat them too! Thank you!

That is great, congratulations!

 

[DiamondDust]

I get over in the Seattle area every now and then...also some of the shows if I know about them in time.

We might have to talk price if you can bring some over to this side of the mountains! PM me if you are thinking about it!

DD

 

[DiamondDust]

Especially for Trisha-
We just got back from our first show and had a little surprise from our Barnevelder pullet, hatched from your shipping eggs (all the way from CA to SC!!!)...



My DS showed Lily in the Junior Show and the judges loved her...loved her so much they gave her this...


I think she was supposed to be in the Continental Class, but oh well, she beat them too! Thank you!

Truly a stunning pullet! Well done on your showing!

DD