how long do chickens lay eggs for

[TheMoncktons]

We just rescued two hens who are about 18 months old. The man who had them said he was told that when they stopped laying to get rid of them. We told him it was winter and they lay less or not at all due to light etc. He was very sorry that he had already 'offed' his rooster and two of his hens before we intercepted. Especially the one that he was leaving until last was hand raised from a day old. He even cried when he said goodbye to her. I'm surprised he was planning to kill her. She could still have made a pet even if she didn't lay!!

 

[neetabeamie]

what would you recommend for a chicken that lays regularly but will last for a while as an egg producer?

 

[alibabba]

Im curious now also, as to the genetics. In humans some women have more eggs than others, again eggs are present in humans and apparently chickens at birth.

Could some smarty chicken breeder make a zillion on breeding a chicken that lays steady for it's entire lifetime, to accommodate the backyard chicken farmer? (If no one ever thought of this, I hereby decree a patent on this idea, I name it, 'extended production".



Seriously, I don't have the time for this, can a big University buy my idea for a tidy sum? Ok, a small sum?