Replacement Pullets, curious on your methods/routine.

[Going Quackers]

Do you do it yearly? give it a year or two... etc.

I did get replacements last year for my 3yos.. the 3yo are still laying but i anticipate slow down, so the new girls(one who is laying already) will step up...

I also started a whole new flock of different breeds, so have those too. I am not an egg laying business lol but like to have enough for myself and often give some to friends, family etc.

I feel like i want to skip babies this year, so wanting to know how often people do the pullet additions to their laying flocks to keep a nice flow of eggs coming.

I am also capable of adding to both flocks using roosters that i own ... so don't necessarily need to purchase anymore but would again like to take this year off of babies(and no i have not told the super broody bantam breeds any of that lol) .

 

[LoveThemBirds]

Well I tend to have my birds un a "Grow out " pen.While the adults free range they can still see the.pullets.Give it a week.Aftet a week passes by,let the pullets fred range with the adults.Be sure your giving them treats,really distracts them from fighting while together.

 

[mymilliefleur]

I hatch out a group of pullets every year, usually 25 some and than I cull any problem hens, (lack of thriftiness, egg eating, not laying, etc). Most people cull there birds at 2 years, but I prefer not to, since I have some hens that are still laying strong (almost an egg a day) at 3-5 years of age. A few birds I have to cull at 1.5 years, while others I don't cull until 5 or 6 years (with a few exceptions of course). I hatch chicks from march through July so the the pullets will start laying august-december so I'm getting plenty of eggs while the other girls are molting or not laying do to decreased day light, etc. Hope this helps!

 

[Mrs. K]

Quote:
You can do that? wow! It is wanting to have the babies that gets most people in trouble.

You can certainly take a year off. Personally, I like a multigenerational flock. I try and keep it as young as possible. Predators can ruin the best of plans.

so, it is perfectly fine to take a year off, but I would not take two.... but that is me. Some people only get chicks every 3-4 years.

Mrs K