how long do you keep your flock before you replace them

[Fred's Hens]

Your present lighting scheme is fine. 12 hours of light won't "push" them. 15 hours of light might.

 

[gryeyes]

Quote:
This is my "plan" as well.

My elderly chickens will have a home until they die. I don't really care if they lay eggs at that point, or not. They will still provide great fertilizer, help reduce the bug population, and make me smile.

 

[Luvroos]

I've read in magazine articles that a chickens age is weekly for them while yearly for people and that they live to be 8 or more years. You state that your elderly will have a home, what age might you consider elderly? I've heard all different ages!

Sorry for invading your post, I thought it were interesting to read and be made aware of others opinions regarding their chickens.

 

[patman75]

I get about 6 new chicks every year. By the time the new chicks start laying the older chickens (2.5 years old) hit their 2nd molt and they will be processed. Since egg laying production slows down after the 2nd molt it does not make sence (from a money stand point) to feed them while they are not providing eggs for months and then give you even less eggs when they start laying again.

 

[Luvroos]

I don't know why people say that they actually stop laying! I have a 4 yr old EE that lays a green egg every day. They might slow down a bit but, they'll lay for nearly life. It's the choice of their owners. From a breeders stand point of view they lay forever as long as there's a rooster around and without and must be up in age before they stop completely. I personally think that their stopping at around 2 years of age is just the natural well known saga of a chicken while very few will ever say anything different about them since this is the only well known excuse. It's like an old wives tale or something!!!!!!!!!

 

[Fred's Hens]

Quote:
SOME breeds decline so slowly that it is barely noticed. But, other layers, particularly breeds used by commercial concerns are charted by State University Ag schools, poultry genetics companies, poultry businesses world wide, No, it is hardly an old wives' tale. Not at all. Believe me, commercial poultry farmers have this stuff down a science. They cannot afford to do otherwise.

 

[tmeh]

We are just attempting our first time with chickens...we have 8 birds, 2 white leg horns, 2 barred rock, 2 rhode island red, and 2 aracana. They should be laying eggs late September. Can we add new chicks to the flock?

 

[tmeh]

We are just attempting our first time with chickens...we have 8 birds, 2 white leg horns, 2 barred rock, 2 rhode island red, and 2 aracana. They should be laying eggs late September. Can we add new chicks to the flock?

 

[Mrs. K]

tmeh - you cannot add chicks to an established flock, until the chicks are nearly full grown, or unless chicks are being raised by a broody hen that is in the established flock.

I add new chicks each year, cull extra roo's and anything that is getting old. Nature culls a lot of those for me.

I have not tried this idea, but am thinking on it. If you get white laying chicks the 1st year, brown laying chicks the 2econd, and green laying chicks the third year. You can easily tell which age group is laying or not laying.

Mrs K

 

[mithious]

You can try adding the chicks, but they need to be separated from the flock, and first in quarantine for atleast 2-4 weeks. Some of the new chicken owners use a separate pen in their coops, so the new chicks and older chickens can see but not reach each other. Some have "panic rooms" a box with a small entry way, so only chicks can get in but not older chickens with the chick food inside, The older chickens will pick at on the chicks, when they are young and could kill them, as chickens have a natural pecking order and new chicks would not be a part of that order.

I would suggest, trying the search bar up top of the forum, and type in your question. I bet you get tons of posts on this subject and many differing views and ways to try this...some have had success, some have not till older as other OP said...broody hen IS the best way if you are bringing in new chicks!

Another one of the problems you get into with the chicks and layers hens, is the chicks need different feed than the layers do...be careful if you do try and read a lot first and keep asking questions of the BYC members...there is literally TONS of info on here about this already if you like to read!

Best of luck!