Do Leghorns lay in winter in milder climates?

[UrbanEnthusiast]

I've heard Leghorns don't lay in winter, but I live in Seattle where we have a long, rainy winter, but it very rarely gets below freezing, even at night. I just got two new Exchequer Leghorn pullets, hatched April 16th, and I hope they will lay before Labor Day (when the rain often sets back in) as I know Leghorns tend to mature early. But what do y'all think the odds are that I'll get some eggs from them year-round? I'm trying to convince my boyfriend to get three more hens (we already have five and in Seattle the limit is eight) and I love Leghorns for their laying capacity and flightiness to escape raccoons and dogs. But it will be hard to justify getting more Leghorns if they only lay during our extremely short summers.

What has your experience been with this matter? Thanks!

P.S. I just heard that seasonal laying has more to do with light exposure than temperature, so I guess I'm screwed, what with our extremely short and overcast winter days here. And I can't really provide them a light as our flock free range all day and sleep 30-40' up in a giant pine tree at night (crazy, I know, but they love it and have been safe from predators up there since we started letting them do it seven months ago).

 

[Fred's Hens]

A first year pullet generally lays extremely well their first winter, with little or no supplemental lighting. If you do decide to provide some additional lighting, and yes, it is a choice, perhaps you might consider that all they really need is just a few additional morning, pre-dawn hours. Most folks use a timer, having it snap on at 5 am and go off at 8 am when the sun is up. That's about all you really need do, especially with a good laying strain like your birds. Best regards.

 

[UrbanEnthusiast]

Thanks for the info, Fred! Like I said in my original post, providing artificial light isn't really feasible for my flock as they roost at night in a tree rather than a coop.

 

[Fred's Hens]

I had some escapees from a flock in 1961 that dodged butchering day and spent the winter in pine trees. LOL

However, your pullets aren't going to "fixate" on your coop and nesting, so how do you plan to deal with egg collection?

 

[UrbanEnthusiast]

I had some escapees from a flock in 1961 that dodged butchering day and spent the winter in pine trees. LOL

However, your pullets aren't going to "fixate" on your coop and nesting, so how do you plan to deal with egg collection?

We have three hens already who just started laying in spring and they have a few favorite spots in the yard. It's no big deal.