once one starts, will they all follow suit???with 2 questions

[fordmommy]

Newbie here. My girls haven't started laying yet. Should be soon I suspect. I got my 8 chickens from two places. But they're about the same age. Hatched around March sometime.

Heres my question. Once one starts, are the rest going to get the clue???



Okay. So what will happen come winter? We live in Wisconsin. Will they still lay in the winter if they start laying so late???

 

[warmfuzzies]

They will probably all start around the same time, if they are all the same age and breed.

I wouldnt think it would be quite yet though. I know the books say 20 weeks, but I have never seen it happen that soon. My latest one was almost 11 months before she started laying, but she was a cochin and they mature slowely.

My earliest ones were hatched in April and started laying in November, I think. I now have pullets that are about 20 weeks old, and nothing yet. The roos have JUST started trying to crow.

What breeds are they? That makes a big difference in when they will start.

 

[kcfuerst]

OMG, I haven't ever seen it so soon either, but last week I found an egg from my 16.5 week old Black Sexlink. Amazing. She's given me an egg a day ever since. Started out real little and now looking a bit more normal sized. I have eight other girls and no one else is laying yet.

 

[fordmommy]

Okay. So what will happen come winter? We live in Wisconsin. Will they still lay in the winter if they start laying so late???

 

[Sparks]

We live in WI..Pullets the age that yours are will probably lay well during the winter. Given a nice dry, not drafty coop. Plenty of food and water. The second year and on they slowed down a bit. Didn`t really want to go out in the cold. In the fall I collect bags of leaves and throw them in the run after it snows. They love it and can scratch around in them. Good luck with your flock!

 

[fordmommy]

Thanks Sparks. Good idea with the leaves in the run. I have the outside run done with a small shelter for them. We are working on the inside part. We will have an inclosed run area with windows and a insulated house with nesting boxes and perches and a place for water and food.

 

[miche]

I'm a newbie in WI too. Our hens started laying last winter at the end of December (at 6mth old) and laid consistently all winter long, even during the bitterest sub zero temps. They loved to be outside, but hated the snow. We threw down hay over snow to baby them, and they loved it along with the shoveled deck.