Preventing August-born pullets from maturing early?

[ajlynco]

RidgeRunner-can you recommend any books from Gail Dameron? I always like to get as much info from as many sources as I can before jumping in...

 

[HEChicken]

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That was exactly my reaction at first, but then i read the pullets could have complications from maturing early and also that their eggs would always be smaller than pullets born from March through August... so, did you have pullets born between August and February raised in natural light and whose eggs were the same size as the ones born "in season"? and no complications for the pullets?

I can't see the problem with them always laying slightly smaller eggs, even if that is true. It seems to me that laying smaller eggs means less likelihood of some of the laying complications that high production layers sometimes face.

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I don't know if I would argue exactly but my personal choice will always be to allow nature to take its course. IMHO, a hen's body needs a break from laying periodically; hence nature provides a molt break and also allows them to slow down when light is limited. By fooling with nature and forcing them to lay when the days are short, their bodies don't get that break and will wear out a lot sooner. I've never added light. I've also never had a hen that was egg-bound, or an internal layer or any of the other issues that you see frequent posts about on this forum. That is not to say I never well but I do think letting them free-range and not adding supplemental light are contributing factors to their good health.

 

[Ridgerunner]

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I have not read any books by Gail Dameron, just articles and some exerpts. Just go to your local library and see what they have. You can often check them out before ordering one.