How old are your hens?

[chickenpiedpiper]

I have a mixed flock, of many ages, my oldest hens are 2 RIR's, and are 6 years at least, and lay an egg every other day or so. My first Americana is 5 years, and also lays every other day. From there, we go down mostly to 2 years old and under, and I dont really keep track of them, as they all lay communally in one or two nests, my oldest 3 have thier own special spot.

Occasionally someone will molt, and stop laying for a while, and sometimes in the fall the count falls off, but as soon as I start using the day heat light to keep the chill out, egg count goes back up.

I suggest you plan on getting a few new chicks each spring, and as they mature, they will pick up the slack from any aging ladies, that way you have a steady flow, but are not overwhelmed, or stuck with a flock of no layers.

Good Luck!

 

[EweSheep]

Oldest is my four year old SSH bantam girl and youngest are the Spitzhauben chicks in the bator, due Feb 2nd LOL!

 

[rizq]

My oldest are my 4 and 5 yo SS Hamburgs. Out of two 3-year-olds, one 4-year-old, and two 5-year-olds (that makes 5, lol) I get 4-5 eggs a day during the peak laying season, 3-5 eggs off peak, and apparently nothing this winter, lol. They are all on strike at the moment. I also have a 9 week old pullet, but obviously she is not laying yet. I wish they would get back to business so I can hatch more!

Of course, they are not the only hens not laying ... the only ones laying for me right now are my Seramas.

 

[chickieboy]

hello flock mistress will u have any wheaton maran eggs for sale pure blooded ? thank u chickie boy southeast oklahoma

 

[kara]

This is what I have heard. If you have a light in the coop for 18+ hours a day the chickens will lay year round for about 2 years. If you do not have a light in the coop, then hens will lay eggs for possibly 5 years. The egg production for hens without extra light will slow down or even stop in the winter months. In both cases, hens will stop laying during molt.

 

[fasbendera]

The book I read said that chickens reach their peak at three years old. My first two hens are turning three so next year technically my plan was to replace them. They may just be the grandmas of the group to hard to part with. We raise meat birds and process them ourselves with the people who signed up to get chickens. I mentioned I will have a hard time when the hens time comes and I was told I can go in the house until the deed is done.

Take it as a case by case basis. Some hens are friendlier and some I have no attachment to. Bottom line for me was it was a meat and egg production venture for our own use and I may end up with one or two pets but not 21 which is the size of my flock. I do sell eggs and I get a dozen or more a day. My eighteen year old can scramble up a dozen for lunch so a dozen isn't always enough. I have plenty of people lined up for eggs.

I do get new chicks each year so I do have young birds every year by school project adoption (2 orpingtons) or hatchery chicks. This year I am ordering 10-15 so the hawks can leave me a couple. Survival of the fitest and smartest here.

 

[key west chick]

My Key West roo is around 9 I guess and still gettin the job done. My oldest hen is probably 7 or so. She still lays several times a week and is my best broody.