Hen laying

[Northwestmichicken]

When do hens stop laying in the colder weather?

 

[sourland]

Some, especially young birds will lay through the winter. Much depends on the breed and age of the bird.

 

[Ridgerunner]

When do hens stop laying in the colder weather?

How old are yours? When did they start laying.

The instinctive model is that hens will lay until the days get shorter in the fall/winter. The trigger is not how long the days are or the cold weather but whether the days are getting shorter or longer. The shorter days of fall means it will be harder to raise chicks so they stop laying and molt. Then, when the days get longer in spring they start laying eggs again.

Since we've domesticated them and bred them to lay more eggs some of that has changed a little. Pullets will sometimes skip the molt their first fall/winter and lay continuously until the following fall. Pretty much all mature hens will stop laying when the days get shorter, but they might start back laying when they finish the molt, not waiting for the longer days of spring.

If you manipulate the light so they do not know the days are getting shorter they might not stop in the fall.

 

[Northwestmichicken]

I got them in February and they started laying in June-July somewhere in that time & I do not supplement light. And could you explain what molting is?

 

[Northwestmichicken]

Never mind I read up on it

 

[bugzziee]

When do hens stop laying in the colder weather?

mine have totally stopped. or they're hiding them. again. good grief if i have to buy groceery store eggs i think i'm gonna puke. it's never been this bad. wth? anybody else going thru this? smh