We have the property, we have barns (in need of some work) so it must be time to raise some chickens for eggs. I know they will happily lay during the summer and understand that if they have heat and light during the winter to simulate fall/spring, they will continue to lay more than they would otherwise. (How much more??)
The question:
If you do give them winter heat and light, are you stressing the birds and shortening the number of years they will lay? Or is "productive laying years" just a function of age as long as they are kept well? I have been buying eggs from a guy at work but we only get them in the summer as he doesn't supplement heat and light in the winter. If I have excess eggs (and that would be the plan) it would be nice if my customers could depend on something year round rather than just a few months in the summer. But I don't want to mistreat the birds. I could cram them in little cages and force as many eggs as they can produce like the egg factories if I didn't care about them having a comfortable happy life while they provide us with eggs and maybe a little spare money. But that isn't me
Thanks,
Bruce
The question:
If you do give them winter heat and light, are you stressing the birds and shortening the number of years they will lay? Or is "productive laying years" just a function of age as long as they are kept well? I have been buying eggs from a guy at work but we only get them in the summer as he doesn't supplement heat and light in the winter. If I have excess eggs (and that would be the plan) it would be nice if my customers could depend on something year round rather than just a few months in the summer. But I don't want to mistreat the birds. I could cram them in little cages and force as many eggs as they can produce like the egg factories if I didn't care about them having a comfortable happy life while they provide us with eggs and maybe a little spare money. But that isn't me
Thanks,
Bruce