Topic of the Week - Winter Egg Laying

[aart]

I don't disagree that it makes no sense, but I think we're going down a path that we don't need to travel. Like I said - I eat my birds. But I'm not going to judge or condemn someone for giving away their spent hens if they feel the need or desire to do so. Especially if they're blessing someone who can use them. My whole point was, it's not irresponsible to give away (not "pawn off") chickens that are no longer laying. What people do with their spent hens is their business. Not my problem. (However, as I stated earlier, I would disagree if they're being treated inhumanely - like just being turned loose for nature to take its course.) We don't know that everyone who rehomes their spent hens are buying or eating the grocery store franken-chickens. Some people who eat eggs don't eat meat. Oh, whatever - I'm not going to try to explain myself any further.

Yes, beating a dead horse(chicken?)....
....original statement(s) that started this debate seem to be gone....
.....choir can take a break

 

[petalumapaul]

Well I have 10 chickens and I only get 1 egg a day.

I wish it were a bit more. My hens are almost three years old. A few Buff Orpingtons, a few Americaunas, a few Barred Rock.
They're very sweet. I do supplement light so we get 14 hours a day. I live near San Francisco, so it's not terribly cold. It might frost a bit at night but during the day it always goes up to 50 degrees in the winter.
I'm feeding layer pellets. They have an area 15 feet by 60 feet to roam.

Still, ten chickens, just 1 or maybe 2 eggs a day.

 

[rebrascora]

@petalumapaul

At 3 years old, that is to be expected. They should pick in a month or two though if not sooner. Personally I think you are probably wasting your money/electricity with supplemental lighting. Quite a few of my older girls have started back up without it and others will follow suit soon by the look of their combs..

 

[WilloughbyStead]

Does anyone know when Maran's typically stop? I'm thinking its time to cull, my Maran. She's beautiful though and her eggs are awesome but she stopped laying before the other ladies did (in other words it didn't seem to be seasonal) and she wasn't molting. She just stopped. I picked her up today and examined her, her comb is pale, feet and skin aren't pale (have more color than it would when shes laying), and vent looks very pale, not moist and looks almost shriveled up (sorry Gretc-hen, for telling the whole internet). She's 2.

 

[Hasgrits68]

Does anyone know when Maran's typically stop? I'm thinking its time to cull, my Maran. She's beautiful though and her eggs are awesome but she stopped laying before the other ladies did (in other words it didn't seem to be seasonal) and she wasn't molting. She just stopped. I picked her up today and examined her, her comb is pale, feet and skin aren't pale (have more color than it would when shes laying), and vent looks very pale, not moist and looks almost shriveled up (sorry Gretc-hen, for telling the whole internet). She's 2. 

Willoughby, If she was not a heritage breed then two years is about right. Production breeds, especially, lay lots of eggs for just a few years and then they are done. It sounds like signs are pointing to her being through.

 

[aart]

Does anyone know when Maran's typically stop? I'm thinking its time to cull, my Maran. She's beautiful though and her eggs are awesome but she stopped laying before the other ladies did (in other words it didn't seem to be seasonal) and she wasn't molting. She just stopped. I picked her up today and examined her, her comb is pale, feet and skin aren't pale (have more color than it would when shes laying), and vent looks very pale, not moist and looks almost shriveled up (sorry Gretc-hen, for telling the whole internet). She's 2.

Marans are not stellar layers....a 2 year old bird is not going to be laying in the winter without supplemental lighting, and even then there's no guarantee.
Many different breeds of birds do not lay like clockwork in prime season let alone all year round.
Did she molt this fall?
Is she 30 20 months old....hatched in spring of 2014 correction 20 months and 2015

 

[Beekissed]

Marans are not stellar layers....a 2 year old bird is not going to be laying in the winter without supplemental lighting, and even then there's no guarantee.
Many different breeds of birds do not lay like clockwork in prime season let alone all year round.
Did she molt this fall?
Is she 30 months old....hatched in spring of 2014?

Um...I've got right now~ and have had in the recent past~ 2 yr old WRs laying in the winter. I've had 3-6 yr old WRs and BAs laying in the winter months without extra lighting. Not so sure about Marans but there are older birds that will lay in the winter without lighting them up...you just gotta choose the right breeds and then the right birds.

 

[aart]

Quote: Well, you and your birds are pretty unique....most '2 years olds' are not laying about now.
Only a few of mine have come back into lay.

 

[Elemes]

My marans isn't of hen age yet to say. She's still laying in this winter mess, though.

 

[WilloughbyStead]

Willoughby, If she was not a heritage breed then two years is about right. Production breeds, especially, lay lots of eggs for just a few years and then they are done. It sounds like signs are pointing to her being through.

Someone correct me if I am wrong, but I am quite sure a Maran is a heritage breed. I'm pretty sure she's an Americuana Maran Cross. She was sold to me as a Maran but she's got Americauna face, cheeks, comb. She also lays true blue- green blue- light green- light blue- blue green- green- olive eggs...

I'm just wondering if she's done done or just done for a season. She seems too young to just stop.