When to cull layers?

[MomFoldingLaundry]

Hey guys,

I haven’t been around in a while, but I have a question. When do birds start laying again in spring? I have about 14 females who haven’t laid a single egg in a couple months, and I’m tempted to cull them and hatch more. They are about a year old, or maybe 1.25 years old.

Do you think they’d start laying again in spring? Should I give them until March to see?

I need to be hatching more, and dont really have the space for birds who dont pull their weight.

What do you guys do?

 

[springvalley123]

I had some resume last year, late January-mid February. My current group was molting, but 2 of them haven't resumed yet although 1 comb has been redenned a long time. It can be molt, lengthening days, diet, etc. but so far I haven't had any exact formula.

 

[preciouseureka]

What a coincidence, just this morning I saw that my girls are back to work! Must be the weather...we've had chilly chilly nights with frost but the last two days have had a bit of pale sunshine, I guess it was enough to turn on the taps. If you are able to hang in there and give them a little more time, it just might be worth it. Good Luck!

 

[tripletfeb]

Hey guys,

I haven’t been around in a while, but I have a question. When do birds start laying again in spring? I have about 14 females who haven’t laid a single egg in a couple months, and I’m tempted to cull them and hatch more. They are about a year old, or maybe 1.25 years old.

Do you think they’d start laying again in spring? Should I give them until March to see?

I need to be hatching more, and dont really have the space for birds who dont pull their weight.

What do you guys do?

You could try increasing their light to 14 hours a day to see if they pick laying back up. I'd give them another shot before you cull. Besides, if you hatch more, you then have to wait for the babies to get old enough to lay. Might as well wait to see if the older ones continue with more light

 

[Nabiki]

They'll start laying when they start getting 14+ hours a day of light.