NY chicken lover!!!!

[Metella]

Unless you NEED them - I would just their systems get geared up naturally - they may lay throughout the winter, or lay off and on until spring - so realize that eggs can freeze fast You can eat a frozen egg - let it thaw and cook as normal - I don't bake with any - I think it makes cakes and such less fluffy - but you haven't ruined an egg if it freezes.

Do make sure if it cracks that bacteria from poopy boards or such haven't gotten in the crack - if so - I cook those eggs and feed back to the hens.

Thanks for the pictures Good luck.

 

[annie511]

I don't "need" the eggs but I would like some during the winter. Will they start laying with the shortened days or will they wait til spring to start laying?

 

[Metella]

- they may lay throughout the winter, or lay off and on until spring - .

So that is as specific as I can get - all hens will be slightly different - the only way to really make sure they lay constantly is to give artificial light - otherwise - you will get some - but no one can say how much ... one hen may start to lay an egg a day in Nov and go solid - or none may start.

 

[Chicken girl 15]

There is no way to ensure that even with lights they will lay. Some pullets are just late to lay while others are early and dependable. I have a bunch of 24 week pullets and I'm only getting 2-3eggs a day from them. Yet last year I had 12 20 week old who all started within 3 days. I also have an 18 week old who layer her first egg on Saturday. It all depends on the bird.

 

[Metella]

True actually - even with artificial light - you will only increase the already UNKNOWN number of randome eggs you will get ... no guarantee of steady eggs from all.

Thanks Chicken Girl 15 for elaborating and correcting
that !!!

 

[Beer can]

I don't "need" the eggs but I would like some during the winter. Will they start laying with the shortened days or will they wait til spring to start laying?

Most of the time I have had them go into lay when winter is coming they usually continued laying all winter with a exception of a couple brown Leghorns. My EEs laid all winter. Last yr I started with jersey giant's, they started in the middle of winter and laid every day with no lights.

 

[annie511]

Ok. I've read a few threads that said they won't start laying til spring unless they have 14 hrs of light so I was worried. I'm glad to hear others have laid without the light. I have 6 ee, 2 rir, and 2 Polish, and some white chicken that I don't know what she is. I'm not expecting anything from the Polish hens

 

[Beer can]

@annie511 we still have one polish from a mix batch a few yrs ago. She doesn't lay all that great now but actually did lay a lot that first winter.
I've used light in the past, it does definitely improve laying. Haven't used lights in the last four-five yrs, still get enough eggs from the one's that do lay for our family and it gives them a break.

 

[annie511]

@annie511 we still have one polish from a mix batch a few yrs ago. She doesn't lay all that great now but actually did lay a lot that first winter.
I've used light in the past, it does definitely improve laying. Haven't used lights in the last four-five yrs, still get enough eggs from the one's that do lay for our family and it gives them a break.

I heard Polish hens aren't winter hardy... also a mixed batch lol

 

[annie511]

O boy... laverne(rir) is in one of the nesting boxes... I don't know if she is practicing or sitting on an egg