What is your preference? Create Mixed Flock or Replace Entire Flock at One Time?

[Wishapup]

I've never had an experience where a hen never laid an egg, but I've heard others tell of it.

I've had some EEs that are great layers, but overall they are one of the least consistent of the breeds I've owned. One of mine lays every other day for a while, stops for several months, then starts again. Interestingly, she also has the worst molts of my 54 birds. Her daughter is proving to be a better layer!

I'd suggest Option 1 over Option 2. While it's fun to 'start fresh,' as others have pointed out there is the disadvantage of not having eggs, and the older chickens are helpful as role models for the younger ones. I have a very mixed flock as far as ages, from 6 months to around eight years old.

We will be culling some four year old hens this week.

 

[LanceTN]

I would suggest staggering the ages of your flock.

Replace the non layers now and leave some room in the coop to add more.

With staggered ages your production is staggered so you don't suffer from your whole flock, or most of it, quitting at the same time.

Also I suggest focusing are more highly productive birds. Since you'll be culling get good dual purpose birds like Orpingtons and Astralorps. They will reliably produce eggs and give a good meat yield when it's time to cull birds.

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

I also keep a mixed age flock. I hatch eggs pretty much all spring and summer long (or just whenever the mood strikes). I just replace my rooster(s) every couple years to bring in new blood.

 

[islandgirl82]

Yes, definitely female.

That's one of the major benefits of keeping dual purpose breeds; when they're not up in egg production, they're certainly not a lost cause with meat.

I do have a few hens who are here to stay for the long haul and others who will be culled as a result of slack in laying.

I too have noticed major inconsistencies with egg production in Easter Eggers which is one reason I've decided to phase them out of my flock. I may keep one or two for the sake of having a colorful egg basket but I'm partial to my Wyandotte as dual purpose and Hamburg for eggs so those will be my main focus.

 

[mymilliefleur]

I would cull the non productive ones. if the others are laying I see no reason to get rid of them.
its possible your barnvelder has some problem such as egg binding, or internal laying. is she over weight?

 

[fasschicks]

Don't know of any internal issues she might have. She is definitely not overweight. She has just never laid an egg for me in the 13 months I have had her. I use my husband's game cam to watch the girls and she just doesn't lay any eggs. Since I only have 7 birds actually laying, I know what each bird's eggs look like. From time to time, she will get into the habit of laying on the nest for a couple hours and then sing her song (or steal another bird's song)... but alas, NO EGGS. I call her my freeloader, but I have gotten to the point of enough.

My white EE is just really inconsistent laying. When she lays, she lays 3 a week, but then she doesn't lay for a couple months. It is like she has these mini molts throughout the year. Strange. When I first got all of these girls, I just wanted to get some cool birds with cool eggs. Now I am to the point of getting cool birds that actually lay eggs. My other 6 birds are an australorp, SLW, dominique, 2 other EEs, Giant Jersey/Silkie mix (which actually lays 4-6 eggs/week!).

 

[islandgirl82]

My two oldest (4yrs old) who are each still giving me 4-5 eggs each week (though currently finishing up their molt) have well earned their keep. One is an EE and she's the sole survivor of my original flock so she holds a special place for me and the other is my SLW who was a rescue and the pair of them have survived many hardships together. I added 3 pullets this spring; 2 EEs and Golden Spangled Hamburg. The two EEs were laying decently and then they just stopped. I was hoping it would pick back up once they adjusted to getting fermented feed instead of dry but it seems they're both going through a mini molt instead. I'm hoping they'll be back on track soon. The Hamburg was a little later than I thought she'd be to start laying but there have been very few days since she started when she hasn't given me an egg...as in, she'll lay for a week to 10 days straight before having a day off. The only "drawback" (and it's not a big deal to me at all) is that Hamburg eggs are fairly small so I have to use twice as many when I'm baking. She's currently my only one laying but I have one more pullet (an Olive Egger) who is just reaching POL so I'm hoping she'll be more productive than the older EE pullets.