First time layers and wintertime

[SemiSweet2391]

I have some 19 week old pullets! I have 3 RIR, 3 EE and 1 White Polish. We are getting about 10 hours of daylight. Are any of these breeds likely to start laying in winter time? Looking forward to my first thousand dollar egg!!

 

[nuthatched]

None of them really but they should start end of February/beginning of March.

 

[Rebechenson75]

I. Not sure if this is where I should ask...

We are expecting snow. This is the first time with birds. Is there anything I should do for them?

 

[SemiSweet2391]

None of them really but they should start end of February/beginning of March.

Thank you @nuthatched !

 

[nuthatched]

I. Not sure if this is where I should ask...

We are expecting snow. This is the first time with birds. Is there anything I should do for them?

Such as? Make sure they have plenty of ventilation without cross breeze and keep the water liquid.

 

[AntiqueB]

Some chickens like snow. Mine do not. I shovel a place for them to "free range," and put some hay down for them to walk on.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I have some 19 week old pullets! I have 3 RIR, 3 EE and 1 White Polish. We are getting about 10 hours of daylight. Are any of these breeds likely to start laying in winter time? Looking forward to my first thousand dollar egg!!

I've had several different breeds that would start laying around Thanksgiving or Christmas and even new years.. most often just a few weeks later than expected for their breed.. I'm at the California/Oregon border on the coast where it storms a lot and use only natural lighting.

So your guess is as good as anyone else's.. so many things "they" say about chickens *may* (or may not) be true.. chickens have their own genetics and don't read our books and rules about what they should or should not do.. especially with quality feed available unlike in otherwise natural settings.

You can be on the look out for other clues.. getting chattier often being one of them.

Here's to hoping for the first $1000 egg before the years' end!

 

[Rebechenson75]

Some chickens like snow. Mine do not. I shovel a place for them to "free range," and put some hay down for them to walk on.

I have some alfalfa we bought a few days ago. Some of the straw from the first flakes we gave are still in there. I was thinking of putting some more under the sheltered part of their run for them to use for bedding. I also put pine shavings in the coop on top of their pellets bedding.

 

[Vicker]

I'm in North Texas. My youngest birds now are EE and started laying last month (or was it early this month?). They are laying more often now. I don't have any RR at this time, but when I did, even the new layers would start laying late in the year.

 

[AntiqueB]

I'm in NJ. My EEs and Polish have stopped for winter, but my RIR pullet is still laying.