Complete Shutdown

[TurkeyJohn]

2x ChickenCanoe - Your Senior Hens & weather has alot to do with egg production. Cut out all the treats & go to a higher protein feed w/Oyster Shells in a separate dish. I stopped feeding layer, instead feed Flock Raiser w/OS on the side for a few years now Never had a problem with eggs shells, in fact they're pretty strong.

Great idea, I did go to a Grower mix in the fall when they slowed and were moulting, perhaps I'll go back to build up their protein stores...Thanks, TJ

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Yeah, I think the world of my pets with benefits....even the irregularly laying bearded ladies as I'm fond of calling the Easter Eggers...they're just so darned pretty...I do generally get 3 new birds every spring, but I found the Easter Eggers, 'used' last fall, wasn't a great return after feeding them all winter and then they only layed for the spring and early summer, but the eggs were pretty....I'll likely keep all my friends until they pass on their own schedule, but I'll still supplement with 3 more come spring....
Good luck with yours and glad you enjoy them, crazy, never thought a bird hunter like me would enjoy these chickens so much...
TurkeyJohn

This breed chart will give you ideas for better producing new pullets.
http://www.albc-usa.org/documents/chickenbreedcomparison.pdf

 

[Doc7]

If you're considering freezer camp, that should be done when they stop laying in the fall, not now. They are ready to start laying again and will continue to do so all spring and summer.
A friend of mine had slightly older hens. She fed them through molt and all winter. By the middle of January, she decided to get rid of them. I told her to wait. There is no reason to get rid of them after feeding all that time.
A week after she gave them away they all started laying like gangbusters.

Great and economical advice.

My plan is to add 3 chicks every spring and eat 3 oldest (2.5 year olds) every fall.

So my flock in September each year would consist 3x 5 month olds, 3x 1.5 year olds, 3x 2 year olds. Eat the 2 year olds right before molt. Add 3 next spring. Have 3 strong young new pullets laying all fall and winter long.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

That's a good technique.

 

[aart]

've tried the extra light supplementation,

What are the details on the lighting....timer, duration per day and when did you start using it???
Using lights aren't like flipping a switch-haha! ....but they can help.
Duration of daily light as well as increasing or decreasing per day both have an affect.
It can be a crap shoot...I've seen a huge increase in laying just in the last week,
even tho they've had lights since Nov.

 

[townchicks]

The days are getting longer now, you're almost through it. Hang in there.

 

[wild chick]

@ChickenCanoe - The breed chart you linked is very informative. One thing I misunderstood when I first got chickens 3 years ago is this average egg-laying per year. I assumed since a hen was going to lay for 3 - 5 years that these numbers would stay for all their laying years. (No chart I ever saw noted that this was "First Year of Lay". What I've seen is the 1st year is like the charts and each year after is way down from that. Is that expected? My first two years were Wyandottes, and so last year I got a variety pack to see how other breeds compared.

 

[getaclue]

Hens are not vending machines, and don't spit out eggs 365 days a year. They take a needed break in winter.

 

[aart]

What I've seen is the 1st year is like the charts and each year after is way down from that. Is that expected?

Pretty much...older birds may lay less per week each year, but eggs may be larger.
....and each bird of a breed may not be as charted or the same, can depend on lines and individuals.

 

[moniquem]

I haven't had an egg from my girls in months, I got them all last spring. My SS hasn't laid an egg ever, late bloomer? 2 out of the 3 did have a bit of a molt so I started feeding feather fixer from Nutrena.

In the meantime they are just hanging out.....I don't mind as I didn't necessarily get them for the eggs, more for entertainment, weed and bug control in the garden....