Laying longevity

[allpeepedout]

I have read many of the older threads on this topic and would enjoy hearing more opinions about longer laying breeds or theories on laying longevity. Many of us softies don't want to kill our hens and would prefer fewer eggs over more years.

According to research, as I recall, laying declines on average about 12% a year, even faster for production hybrids. I know that it's also highly individual, but I gather that that heritage breeds tend to lay longer, and that care and health also matter. Some people report their Leghorns have continued to lay for many years. Does that ring true for anyone? Other breeds that stand out?

In 2011 I got 2 hatchery barred rock and 4 easter eggers. I think their max production was about 2.5 doz./week. Now in their 4th laying season, they are laying about 19-20/wk. I have nothing to compare that with but they are more than meeting my needs and I'm pleased with that. My fears of precipitous decline at age 2 were unfounded. But as I start to think about adding to the flock, I'm again wondering if certain breeds or breeder strains lay longer. Love also to hear the stories of senior layers!

Thanks.

 

[Sonya9]

My vet keeps many chickens and I got a lot of advice from him this year when getting my first.

He will not kill a chicken that has provided eggs for his family (i.e. if they laid, they stayed) and he loves to tell the story of his chicken named Xena, she laid until she was 8 years old and lived until 13 years. I imagine many folks don't ever end up with senior chickens either by choice or predation or disease etc...

I would expect some of the heritage breeds to be longer lived and longer laying however that is just a guess. I am starting with a very small flock, 2 standard hens and 1 roo and a bantam (still babies, the roo was a surprise) and when the ladies get older and lay less I will just add a couple of pullets to the group to keep getting enough eggs. My chickens are pets with benefits and their lives have meaning whether they are productive layers or not.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Pullets are born with a certain number of ova that can become egg yolks. It is possible that a hen can use all hers up, but that is usually going to be commercial hybrids or chickens kept under lights to extend their laying in winter. These are known as “slick hens” in the commercial poultry business. This is highly unlikely to happen with most hens kept in a backyard flock unless you use lights. Even then a lot have enough to keep going for several years. I got that from an expert that works a lot with the commercial poultry industry and specializes in poultry reproduction. Now I‘ll get into more of my opinion.

I think if you are looking for longevity, strain is very important. Most production breeds, especially from hatcheries, have been bred to pop out a lot of eggs. Different hatcheries have different business models but many replace their laying/breeding flock every year. These hens are certainly not bred for longevity but kind of the opposite. Each hatchery has its own breeding flock with different people selecting the birds put in the breeding pen, so each different hatchery has its own unique strain. For this reason I don’t like to lump all hatcheries together, but it is pretty safe to say hatchery birds are not bred for longevity of laying. They are not bred to go broody either but a lot of them will. Each hen is an individual.

There is all kinds of variety among “breeders”. Some just take hatchery birds, don’t have a clue what they are doing, and sell “purebred” chicks. Some breeders are extremely good at what they do. Some breed purely for show and ignore production traits. Some breed for production traits. Some breed for whatever they feel like breeding for. Some are better than others. Some people don’t breed pullets or cockerels their first year but wait until they are older to see what traits the chickens have before they select their breeders. If you can find someone that is breeding for longevity, you are doing real well. I think it is mainly a crapshoot though, either from hatcheries or breeders.

I think keeping them in natural conditions will help too. Obviously don’t use lights to extend their laying in winter, but also let them be chickens. Don’t try to keep them in a sterile cocoon but let them live in their environment from an early age. Let them build up a strong immune system by letting hem be exposed to the ground and to the flock at a young age.

I think diet helps. See that they get a balanced diet but don’t overfeed them. Some people seem to think a big fat obese hen that can barely waddle around healthy. I don’t. I like a hen that is kind of scrawny and can actually catch a grasshopper even when it involves some running. There are certain diseases, like fatty liver syndrome, that can be caused by overfeeding. The higher the amount of protein in their diet, the larger egg they will lay. Larger eggs can lead to internal laying or prolapse. It can also lead to irregularities in egg laying, like a hen may release more than one yolk a day. If they release two at the same time, you can get a double-yolker. If they release the yolks a little apart, you can get two eggs in one day. The second eggs are often soft-shelled or no shelled because the shell gland doesn’t make enough material to cover tow regular sized eggs in a day. Not only does she run the risk of running out of ova early, the unusual eggs can lead to physical damage, either form the huge double yolker or a soft egg breaking inside her. Obviously this is not going to happen with each unusual egg, but the more unusual eggs they lay the greater the risk.

Other than getting lucky on genetics, I think your best bet for longevity is to expose them at a young age to their environment so they build up their natural immune system instead of relying on drugs, protect them from predators, and feed them a balanced diet. Variety of diet is great, but all things in moderation.

As I said, just my opinions. I’m sure others will disagree with some or even all. Good luck!

 

[Cindy in PA]

I use lights every year & had a hen lay 3 eggs per week until she passed at 8 1/2 years. A chicken is hatched with a couple thousand eggs. I bet not many "run out" before they die.

 

[allpeepedout]

I use lights every year & had a hen lay 3 eggs per week until she passed at 8 1/2 years. A chicken is hatched with a couple thousand eggs. I bet not many "run out" before they die.

Well that's nice to hear! Do you happen to recall what breed she was?

 

[Cindy in PA]

Yes, she was a hatchery Barred Rock.