Hens winter laying

[bigz1983]

Hey everyone we have 18 hens and 1 rooster.
8 buff orpingtons hens at 1 year 7 months experiencing first molt.
5 black australorp hens at 1 year 6 months experiencing first molt.
3 barred rocks hens at 2 years 6 months experiencing second molt.
1 buff orpington hen at 1 year 1 month(hatched October 2018)
1 silver laced Wyandotte hen at 1 year 4 months.
We are not getting any eggs.
Ok we know our older buff orpington, black australorp and barred rock hens will be off lay for the winter/molt.
I have been told that pullets/hens will lay their first winter before their first molt.
So shouldn't we get a few eggs a week from our 1 year 1 month old buff orpington hen?
She started laying in the spring.
Or does that mean the timing set her up for a first winter molt?
Could it just be that our hens are not good layers?

 

[Skippersnh]

i dont think you will be getting eggs until the days get longer as you dont have any pullets this winter

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Don't worry about your birds. They'll be fine.
A hen over a year of age in November is likely to be experiencing her first molt and winter break.
Have any of your birds fully recovered from molt?
You are under 9.5 hours of daily light now and on your way to 9 hours by the end of December. You get almost 15.5 hours of light at summer solstice.
That is a dramatic difference and they are sure to shut down and resume by January or February.

 

[Acre4Me]

Molt= no eggs, as you know.

decreasing light often leads to less or no eggs.

you only have one hen that is A younger layer, but she could be going through a light molt. She is going through her second winter, so likely will lay few or no eggs.

do you have supplemental light? If not, then she may just be waiting until light increases in later winter/early spring.

 

[bigz1983]

Ok so my 1 year 1 month old buff orpington pullet is beyond that the age where they lay all winter?

 

[Acre4Me]

Ok so my 1 year 1 month old buff orpington pullet is beyond that the age where they lay all winter?[/QUOTE


Yes.

 

[bigz1983]

Molt= no eggs, as you know.

decreasing light often leads to less or no eggs.


you only have one hen that is A younger layer, but she could be going through a light molt. She is going through her second winter, so likely will lay few or no eggs.

do you have supplemental light? If not, then she may just be waiting until light increases in later winter/early spring.

No artificial light

 

[Acre4Me]

No artificial light

ok, so likely all will be freeloading girls through the winter months. But, ready to lay some eggs come early spring!

 

[bigz1983]

Don't worry about your birds. They'll be fine.
A hen over a year of age in November is likely to be experiencing her first molt and winter break.
Have any of your birds fully recovered from molt?
You are under 9.5 hours of daily light now and on your way to 9 hours by the end of December. You get almost 15.5 hours of light at summer solstice.
That is a dramatic difference and they are sure to shut down and resume by January or February.

A few have recovered

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Ok so my 1 year 1 month old buff orpington pullet is beyond that the age where they lay all winter?

Female chickens over a year of age are no longer pullets. 1 year is the magic number that makes them hens. Just as 1 year of age makes male chicken roosters or cocks rather than cockerels.
During and after molt till their winter break is over, all will be freeloaders. But they will lay like gangbusters once days lengthen.
In the future, start hoarding eggs in august and the dearth of eggs or grocery visits won't be as painful.