Laying Year Round

[Mrs. K]

The original post is implying or I make that inference, that by changing their diet to a more spring like diet, with vegetables and greens, higher protein by adding nuts to replace the insects will keep her in eggs without added light.

That is incorrect. The number of eggs in the winter time, really the number of eggs anytime is determined by breed, daylength, and age. Younger birds of egg laying breeds will produce more eggs, and will produce the most eggs with adequate light. Decrease the light, and increase the age of the bird, and egg laying will slow regardless of what they are eating.

All chickens, even egg laying breeds will take a break while molting, molting depends on age, with a big molt coming at about 1 year of age.

I have personally tried all sorts of feeding plans.... mostly enough is enough. I think that set ups and space management are more important than food when considering boredom factors and ugly behaviors.

So I do not think the proposed diet will keep molting, older birds in lay.

Mrs. K

 

[ChickenCanoe]

X2

 

[aart]

X3

 

[50-45-1]

i allow my hens to hatch chicks each year so i have new pullets starting to lay and always have eggs in winter. i do not add extra lighting or special food.

 

[HollyWoozle]

We do not use any artificial lighting or change the flock's diet in the winter months, so we see a natural decline in the number of eggs laid and that's OK by us. We currently get 3 eggs a day from 14 hens here in the UK. That's actually plenty for our needs and we just have a surplus the majority of the year which we give away to family, friends, the postman etc.

Have there been any studies regarding the effect of encouraging laying all year on the health of the hens? A lot of people seem to use artificial lighting to encourage them to keep laying so presumably it does no harm, but I can't help but feel that the break is good for them somehow.

 

[aart]

but I can't help but feel that the break is good for them somehow.

It does....even with well managed lighting you can give them a break.

 

[Egghead_Jr]

Egg bound tends to happen when hens begin to lay again after a break. My opinion leans to heath benefit to continued laying. The hens will just be spent of eggs in less years as they are producing year round.

 

[aart]

My opinion leans to heath benefit to continued laying. The hens will just be spent of eggs in less years as they are producing year round.

Their overall health can deteriorate from continuous laying tho,
well before they'll ever run out of eggs.

 

[Eelantha]

Egg bound tends to happen when hens begin to lay again after a break. My opinion leans to heath benefit to continued laying. The hens will just be spent of eggs in less years as they are producing year round.

Their overall health can deteriorate from continuous laying tho, well before they'll ever run out of eggs.

Doesn't selective breeding of hens with the widest pelvic bones prevent egg bound cases? The more spread open the bones, the less chances of the egg staying stuck inside the hen, no?

If not, has anyone tried slowly upping the mineral input of their flocks to compensate their aging and yearly increasing demands for supplements (proteins, calcium, etc), to ensure an almost continuous year-round laying? The hen might run out of eggs faster, but if the slow supplement increase helps support the decreasing immune system of the hen as she grows older, that would help her live a productive, comfortable life without dying too soon, no?

 

[50-45-1]

i copied this from Happychicken website.

What Causes Egg Binding in Chickens?
There are a variety of things which cause egg binding. Some are manageable, others not so much.

• Passing large or odd shaped eggs. The oviduct can only stretch so far and a large or misshapen egg can get stuck.
• Malfunction in the reproductive system. Some hens are prone to problems and will lay odd or parchment eggs on a fairly regular basis – genetic issues.
• Double yolk eggs. These are larger than the usual egg and can cause problems.
• Malnutrition – poor diet low in necessary vitamins, minerals and protein.
• Sedentary life or obesity – muscles become weak from lack of activity or being overweight.
• Premature laying – hens that are forced to lay before they are fully developed often develop binding.
• Elderly chickens – weak muscles and inactivity.
• Egg retention – if insufficient nest boxes are available a hen will sometimes ‘hold’ her egg.
• Underlying reproductive tract infection.
• Severe infestation of internal parasites.