Eggs year round?

[2BD4C10C]

My husband was told today that the hens we have wont lay all year round. I was under the impression that they did lay year round though slowed a lot during the winter months. So what can I expect in terms of egg production from my ladies.

I have 4 Sex Links and 8 Rode Island Reds with a total of 9 eggs laid today. They are all 1.5 yo

Also how long can I expect the hens to continue to lay, at what age do they generally stop being productive?

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Generally from my experience during the pullet year I get eggs all winter, all year basically after they start laying. But then when they hit that second fall/winter they molt and quit for the molt. That can last for a couple or three months but they don't all do it at once and there are always eggs for us. Some molt quickly and others slowly.

So I try to have some pullets around to pick up the slack. Then they molt every fall/winter thereafter and quit during that time. But there are usually a few eggs around even when I don't have pullets around, since not everyone molts at the same rate/time.

Anything, any stressor can make them stop laying, such as too hot, moving things around in the coop, adding new flock members, worms/mites/lice (these can kill chickens too), illness, changes in feed, etc.

After three years of production, they can start slowing down quite a bit but this does vary with individuals and I have not kept chickens older than three years, so cannot really help you out with this part.

Your breeds are heavy production breeds that should generally give you quite a few eggs but they should take a break this fall/winter for you. Your eggs should be less, maybe not non-existent though. You can help them by making sure they get enough protein during the molt.

 

[CalgaryFarmer]

Lighting helps. I got fed up and installed some lights.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/949685/egg-laying-christmas-lights

 

[aart]

I've used supplemental lighting for winter laying for 2 years now, matter of fact have just started it up again as the days are getting close to less than 14 hours long.
It does/can screw up the molt tho, so you may get eggs thru winter but they will molt in spring or summer.....that's been my experience.
Best bet is to freeze some eggs whenever you have a big surplus, then at least you'll always have your eggs for scrambling or baking, if not sunny side up.

 

[DanEP]

I also replace about 1/3 of my girls every year getting the new girls in February or march so they are laying well by winter. Starting about the end of October I add lites getting the girls up between 4:30 and 5 with no lite in the evening.The reason for no lites in the pm is it allows the girls to go to bed naturally and nobody gets caught running around or feeding when the lite goes out and then not being able to see well enough to roost.!8% protein also seems to help with molting and the egg count in colder weather so I just feed grower with oyster shell on the side.

 

[aart]

I also replace about 1/3 of my girls every year getting the new girls in February or march so they are laying well by winter. Starting about the end of October I add lites getting the girls up between 4:30 and 5 with no lite in the evening.The reason for no lites in the pm is it allows the girls to go to bed naturally and nobody gets caught running around or feeding when the lite goes out and then not being able to see well enough to roost.!8% protein also seems to help with molting and the egg count in colder weather so I just feed grower with oyster shell on the side.

Agrees with having lights on on in the morning for roosting with natural sundown.

Curious @DanEP by starting your light so late in the year, you do your birds go thru a molt in late summer / early fall?
How many years have you been using this technique?

 

[Spartan22]

August last year was my first time to have layers, I added light in October but only in the morning, my timer goes on @5am-8 am and took it off in February to give them a break but they continue laying, I average bet 7-9 eggs everyday out of 10 layers. Possibly a beginners luck, let's see how they do this coming fall/winter since I added new comers.

 

[DanEP]

aart , yes it seems like most of the girls have finished with their molt by late fall, not all of course but most. I do have a bo that molts mid winter, but that's chicken's.and a cherry egger that likes to molt in mid summer. As far as the light goes the girls seem to be slowing down a little by then and getting them up at 4:30 seems to be just enough light to keep them going just at a slower pace than in the long days days of summer. I just think of it as giving the girls a little break for winter and the shortest days in Jan they still get 12+ hours of light which is enough to keep them going. I sell just enough eggs to pay for their food and supply my family. If I was trying to maintain high production this wouldn't work, but for me is ok. Now for this to work you need good layers that aren't very old.Most of my girls get rotated out after their second year of laying.I 've been doing this for about for years now