Washingtonians Come Together! Washington Peeps

[Hinotori]

In my experience they tend to stop laying for a bit in winter of the second year onwards unless you provide 14 hours of light.

I havent lit mine for the last couple years and the new hampshires and brahmas totally quit for 3 months.

Only my ameraucana and EE girls laid any. Most of them are three to six years so getting an egg or two a week from each in the darkest days without extra light is pretty good.

Everyone is starting to pick up on laying now. I am a bit irritated that one specific 6 year old EE hen is outlaying everyone, including the hens who aren't quite 2. She laid an egg a week in the darkest part of December and is giving me 4 a week now. Maybe she's trying to show the others how it's done.

I don't ever run out of eggs because I have a silkie horde as well. If they aren't broody, those critters are laying up a storm in preparation to go broody.

 

[ForrestGump]

The first year hens lay it isn't unusual for them to lay during the winter. They are probably only 6 or 8 months old going into winter and don't need to molt yet. The second year they usually go through a major molt and will start to lay again once their bodies are ready. My Easter Eggers and most of my turkens are laying again, but the production birds like the RIR and Barred Rock are still on vacation. They will start up again soon, I'm sure.

 

[pennyJo1960]

Hi there Western Washington! A question about egg laying in the winter. I have 2 RIRs and this is their 2nd winter. Last winter they barely slowed down laying, but this winter they have completely stopped for a couple of months now. I am not completely surprised, as it has been colder this year, and one of them had an impacted crop (treated, whew!) followed by undergoing a hard molt right at the coldest time, then the other followed with a small molt. Shortly prior to all of that I had changed over to scratch and peck layer feed, which they seem to like ok, but part of me blames it for all of their changes...

I keep waiting for them to start laying again, as the daylight hours are creeping longer. What can I expect for a pair of almost 2-year old hens? I expected them to continue to slow in laying rate as they age, but now really hope that they just start up again eventually. We plan to keep them either way, but golly, those past eggs sure were expensive... When do your hens get back into their normal "summer" production rates?

Thanks in advance!

Welcome I give artificial light so they lay all year but the longer days now should
be helping to get your girls going again

 

[pennyJo1960]

I am from orcas island. We have a family ran farm. I do all the internet stuff. I find out interesting stuff to take back and show them.for the farm. The farm is call The Highland farm

Welcome glad you stopped in any of use are willing to help all we can there
is also a search box above on the page just enter key words and it will take you to
a list of what you wanted but great to have another person

 

[Babybockbock]

I need chicks!!! ....the fever is real.

 

[pennyJo1960]

I need chicks!!! ....the fever is real.

what kind are you looking for I know that junebuggena was planning
hatch's of EE

 

[Leigti]

Hi there Western Washington! A question about egg laying in the winter. I have 2 RIRs and this is their 2nd winter. Last winter they barely slowed down laying, but this winter they have completely stopped for a couple of months now. I am not completely surprised, as it has been colder this year, and one of them had an impacted crop (treated, whew!) followed by undergoing a hard molt right at the coldest time, then the other followed with a small molt. Shortly prior to all of that I had changed over to scratch and peck layer feed, which they seem to like ok, but part of me blames it for all of their changes...:/

I keep waiting for them to start laying again, as the daylight hours are creeping longer. What can I expect for a pair of almost 2-year old hens? I expected them to continue to slow in laying rate as they age, but now really hope that they just start up again eventually. We plan to keep them either way, but golly, those past eggs sure were expensive... When do your hens get back into their normal "summer" production rates?

Thanks in advance!

Scratch and pack food is very good, but you need to give it to them wet or fermented. Just dry and they don't get all the nutrients because most of the nutrients are in the powder they add to it. But like I said it is very good food.
This was a bad winter, my chickens all took some time off also but most of them have started back again now. Yours should start laying anytime now. Do you use artificial light in the winter? I don't but it is a personal choice. If you don't use it they definitely slow down or completely stop for a while. Make sure they're getting out into the sunshine, when we actually get any

 

[Leigti]

I need chicks!!! ....the fever is real.

I hear you! I do too, well I don't need them but I really want them.

 

[Leigti]

Time to get some more chicks sold.

What kind are you selling?

 

[Leigti]

One of my speckled Sussex had blood all over her head today. Freaked me out. I wiped it off with a rag. I did a thread asking if it was frostbite but never really got an answer. Tomorrow I will put some Neosporin on it. Any ideas?