When do mature hens slow down on laying?

[Trish1974]

This will be my first fall & winter with mature hens. My girls were just coming into lay last fall so they laid all winter for me. I have two Easter Eggers I acquired this spring that I don't know much about, like exactly how old they are. Since the weekend one of them has either quit laying or they are both starting to slow down (they are my only blue eggers so its easy to tell its them). They are not showing any signs of molting. Have we lost enough daylight that maybe they are starting to slow down naturally for the winter? I'm a little paranoid because I lost my favorite hen to EYP last month. The past few days I've been feeling up the EEs for abdominal swelling and looking at poop and everything seems okay so far.

 

[Frazzemrat1]

Usually around 2 years, but during the winter most chickens slow down, or stop, egg production.

 

[Trish1974]

Right, what I was asking is if there has been enough loss of daylight for them to start slowing down for the winter now?

 

[Frazzemrat1]

anything less than 12 hours, as I understand it, will slow them down.

 

[IZZYBELLA]

Yes, it is possible they have started slowing down. Mine typically don't start slowing down until they are showing evidence of molting, though.

My totally unsolicited advice, is to do a fecal check for worms. They are pretty cheap and if it turns out your girls do have worms, you can treat them before winter, which will help ensure they stay strong and healthy in the cold. Some people never have a problem with parasites, but it never fails that my girls get roundworms in the fall. I had several unnecessary losses because of it over my first winter, so now I test and treat.

 

[aart]

Right, what I was asking is if there has been enough loss of daylight for them to start slowing down for the winter now?

Absolutely.
My 3.5yo cockbird starting molting during the first couple weeks of August,
a few of my hens started not long after.
It's not so much the amount of light but the change in light,
which actually starts in June at the solstice,
and accelerates significantly around the first of August.
Not all birds molt or slow/stop laying at the same time and age.
Cessation of lay in relation to molting are also variable.
Just watch and see.

 

[Trish1974]

Absolutely.
My 3.5yo cockbird starting molting during the first couple weeks of August,
a few of my hens started not long after.
It's not so much the amount of light but the change in light,
which actually starts in June at the solstice,
and accelerates significantly around the first of August.
Not all birds molt or slow/stop laying at the same time and age.
Cessation of lay in relation to molting are also variable.
Just watch and see.

Will do. Thank you so much!

 

[GldnValleyHens]

Hmm, interesting. My flock will be turning 3 in March, the mature hens at least. Their laying has really stunk for awhile, but I hope they aren't done already! They won't go into the soup pot, all named. Guess we need a retirement coop for old biddies haha

 

[aart]

Hmm, interesting. My flock will be turning 3 in March, the mature hens at least. Their laying has really stunk for awhile, but I hope they aren't done already! They won't go into the soup pot, all named. Guess we need a retirement coop for old biddies haha

An adult hen usually stops laying and molts once a year, usually about now.
They should start laying again after the molt is complete and after the days begin to lengthen starting end of December after the winter solstice.
If your birds will be 3 in March, and you got them as chicks, you should have already observed this.

 

[GldnValleyHens]

Yes, this is the third molt I think, and it looks like a chicken exploded, haha my coop garden wouldn't win any awards right now!