Bourbon Reds laying now

[maureen9962]

My poults were hatched in April and started laying about 2 months ago in very Northern VT. Do I need to worry that come spring they will no longer be laying when I want to put eggs in the bator? I have 3 hens, 1 tom and I get 2 eggs every day. They are getting about 13 hours of light as they are in with my Welsummers.

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

If you listen to all the people that quote and cut and paste from the ALBC breeding chart and all the other sites then your turkeys can't be laying in VT this time of year. But since they are that takes care of that. lol I'm betting you have had some warm weather and sunny days over the last few weeks or are you giving extra light?? Ours were also hatched last spring and just starting to lay but the weather here turned cold, gray, wet, snowy and they quit laying. First year hens lay very well and early, are your toms mating them and have you check the eggs for fertilty? If you are giving extra light then they are on the spring laying cycle and yes they will be on the down side of the laying cycle in the spring.

Steve

 

[keesmom]

It must be the extra lighting. I have some Bourbon Reds that hatched in late April and I have yet to see an egg from any of the hens (I'm in MA). I don't expect to see one until our (so-called) spring. I prefer to keep my birds on a natural cycle so I do not add lighting. Unfortunately that usually means I have to buy eggs for holiday baking.

 

[bigdawg]

you could send me the eggs so i could incubate them. i have a lonely tom and i cant find red bourbon hens anywhere right now. hopefully this spring i will. or i will have to hatch some out.