How long do Mille Fleur bantams lay for?

[mkwags]

How long do Mille Fleur bantams lay for? I've got 2 hens that will be 2 in June. Neither one has given me an egg for awhile. Maybe it's the cold winter or maybe they are done? I'm trying to decide if I sned them to a new home as non-layers or if I need to be more patient.

 

[HorseFeatherz NV]

What type of bantams? MF is a color - for example there are Mille Fleur Cochins, Mille Fleur D'Uccles

Could be your hours of light - they just might need a bit more, I have a couple hens like that. How are they looking - comb is it bright red and plump or small and dull?

 

[mkwags]

Thanks for replying.

I think they are the D'Uccles. I'll have to look at their combs and take note of the coloring etc. My other hens are starting to lay more as the light is getting longer. I read a really great article on here about hens laying and it said that there is a major decline in laying around 2-3 yrs. old. Mine will e 2 in June.

I love these girls but need to make room for new hens if they are done laying. I hate to faze them out as they are so fun to watch hop, skip and jump when they are running for scraps.

 

[sourland]

The "major decline" generally takes place in the production bred birds. Other, non production bred, hens can lay throughout their lifetime at a gradually decreasing rate. My guess is that your hens will resume laying in the spring.

 

[HorseFeatherz NV]

I second Sourland

I have a 4 year old EE and a 3 year old SL Cochin - both lay "well" 4 to 5 eggs a week.


Besides, those little D'Uccles hardly take any room

 

[mkwags]

Thanks for your thoughts guys. You're right, they don't take much room, I do enjoy them a lot, and they may lay again in the spring. Thanks again.