Official BYC Poll: Where Do You Get Your Eggs From When Your Hens Are Molting?

[Iluveggers]

We get excess fresh eggs from friends I chicken sit for, (my girls aren’t laying yet), & if I have to buy any eggs not from a free range backyard stand (my first choice), I cook w the store ones & we eat the fresh ones! (Yes I mark the cartons separately).

 

[WallyG74]

Last year I thought I had this figured out. Boy was I wrong. I knew my oldest girls would stop laying. I got new babies July 1 so they would start laying before winter. Nope. When the days got short they just didn’t lay either. I didn’t get new eggs until well into January. So this year I hatched my own in March and April. They are starting to lay now. We’ll have to see it they can push through winter or not.

 

[PippinTheChicken]

I think you need more chickens!

I had 10 chickens at one point, all different ages (some over a year old) and 0 eggs

 

[MysteryChicken]

Our birds lay us enough to get by during the molt. But since Production has dropped, getting enough to sell is abit time consuming.

 

[GC-Raptor]

So Where Do You Get Your Eggs From When Your Hens Are Molting?

I do without.
Complete pancake mix or PB & J.
I've only run out eggs one winter when I only had 3 hens. I haven't bought eggs since my first chickens started to lay 5 years ago.
I have since increased my chicken numbers by getting another coop and pen.
Currently a dozen, 4 hens, 8 pullets.

I keep two separate flocks different ages, a year or two apart.

If both flocks start molting, I cut egg sales and start saving.
Today's pic, cartons are dated when filled and rotated.

If egg production slows drastically, I stop sales.

My chickens usually molt at different times so some are laying when others have stopped.

I consume 6 eggs weekly, more when I have an abundance, up to a dozen. Fresh eggs are so delicious.
GC

 

[Boise-girls]

I still have to buy eggs from the shop, molting or not. My silkies aren't very reliable layers, they lay for a week or two then just stop for a month

I bet they're so cute you don't care a bit!

 

[PippinTheChicken]

I bet they're so cute you don't care a bit!

Yes! They are just pets, very spoiled pets who think they are too royal to lay eggs!!!

 

[PippinTheChicken]

 

[Swbertrand1]

The hens lay so many eggs that we never really run out. I think there is about 70 or more in the refrigerator right now.

With 6 or so of our 11 laying birds giving us eggs on any given day, we're in the same boat with just two of us here.
We put 12 and 18-packs together every few days to distribute to our friends, family, and neighbors. We keep them pretty well stocked...

 

[Boise-girls]

View attachment 2824521

Very regal!