Pullets wait for spring?

[Dhkoenig]

Good morning. I asked this question before but nobody answered so I’m going to give it a whirl again. If pullets come of age in October will they wait til spring to lay their first eggs because of the short days?

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Most likely

 

[SueT]

Mine did.

 

[Aunt Angus]

My pullets just started laying. I was surprised.

 

[Dhkoenig]

My pullets just started laying. I was surprised.

lucky ducky!!

 

[SueT]

@Dhkoenig What kind of chickens are they? It’s going to vary with breeds. Production breeds will lay all winter, so they won’t wait to start as will some others. I’ve had none that lay in the winter, and any late maturing pullets have all waited for early spring, as in Feb.

 

[sourland]

A lot depends upon the breed. High production birds will probably lay before spring. Bantams and landrace breeds may not.

 

[Dhkoenig]

@Dhkoenig What kind of chickens are they? It’s going to vary with breeds. Production breeds will lay all winter, so they won’t wait to start as will some others. I’ve had none that lay in the winter, and any late maturing pullets have all waited for early spring, as in Feb.

We've got a Green Queen, a Black Copper Maran, a Dark Brahma, a Speckled Sussex, a Cookies N Cream and a Cream Legbar

 

[MysteryChicken]

For me it's been split alot of the time. Some will lay, some will start in the spring, or early summer.

 

[Finnie]

I have found that if they reach laying age in October or November, they often do start laying, even if it’s for a short period and then they quit for the winter. Sometimes I will even get one starting in December. And sometimes they do not quit for winter, but just keep on laying. So yeah, it’s very individual with each bird and or breed.

Also, I have found that many don’t wait for spring. Late January is when my egg production begins to recover from the winter slow down. It increases until spring, so there are definitely some (older and pullets) that wait longer and don’t start up as quickly.