Do Jersey Giant's take longer to start laying ?

[4pattysue]

My Jersey Giant hatched March 4, 2013. It is now July 24, 2013 My 16 girls are 20 weeks and 2 days old. They are laying between 3 and 6 eggs a day. They are small eggs but getting larger with each laying. I wasn't expecting them to start at 19 weeks but they are! The one thing I haven't figured out is who or how many are laying. But I go out after lunch each day and find 2 or 3 hens in their own nesting boxes and when they get up, I am plucking 1 to 3 eggs out from under them. Can they really be laying 2 and 3 at a time? I go out and check the boxes 4 times a day, it certainly seems like I have a couple hens that are dropping multiples each time!

 

[countrydream7]

love my bjg too..first time ever with them and chick raising and loving it..bought 7 of them from tractor supply..one reason I have them like the large size,say predators stay away from them cause of size,they say hardy,and calm docile...my toher two choices are blue iowas and Sussex lets see how bjgs do...they are growing up so fast..

 

[4pattysue]

Love my Jersey Giant girls! I am down to 15 hens. One hen died in her sleep on the nest a few weeks back after a several week long cold spell. They have heat lamps that stay on 24/7 and heated water. I was bringing them really warm water first thing in the morning and before bedtime. They laid eggs through the winter but it was much less than the summer peek of 15-16 eggs a day. The lowest egg count in the winter was 2 eggs a day and I learned that the vivid red comb will tell you who's laying and the faded or slightly pinker comb will tell you who's slowed up. I have ordered more Giants and am trying my hand with a few Barred Rocks in a few weeks. Egg production is said to slow up naturally after 2 years, but I imagine an off and on laying cycle beyond that point wouldn't be impossible? I'll find out!

 

[nanne]

I did not see this post! Good grief! Sounds like your chickens are doing a good job. Looking forward to some warm weather, know it has been an extremely cold winter here! Hope to hear from you soon. Take care..blessings