Meyer vs. McMurray--Meyer hens lay fewer eggs?

[WalkingOnSunshine]

We ordered last year from McMurray and this year from Meyer b/c they are closer and cheaper. However, the chicks this year seem very slow to start to lay, and lay fewer and smaller eggs. This is despite a mix of hens that's more geared to laying this year--more RIR and leghorns, fewer dual-purpose breeds. In fact, we got some pearl white leghorns for the first time this year, and they are laying a small egg every third day. Seems crazy to me. I keep a log, and last year, with 25 hens 3 weeks younger than these, I was getting 23-25 eggs a day. This year I am lucky to get 16.

Has anyone else noticed this? I plan to test the theory by ordering from MMM next year but am interested in other people's experiences.

 

[cybercat]

Actually it might have to due to the weather this year. Also RIR are dual purpose chickens. Have you changed feed or something else in your setup? It sounds like that. I know Meyers has good stock maybe more pure or older line than MM so that might be one reason. More pure stock will not lay as much as crossed stock that looks like the breed. There have been many that have breed MM stock of one breed that ended up getting mixed offspring from sposed purebred parents. So you can see why they would end up laying more as most crossing will like sexlinks.

 

[houndit]

The weather could really affect it.

 

[ging3rhoffman]

I ordered chicks from Meyers in early feb and some were laying as early as 16 weeks old. I ordered
again from Meyers to raise late summer early fall layers and they were not laying until 26 weeks of age.
I think weather has everything to do with it. My spring girls laid early, fall girls laid late. Same hatchery.