When to get more chick for max egg production.

[cmom]

I have gotten chicks in October and they were laying fine in February. I have never had any problems with mine laying in the winter but I live in Florida. Maybe climate has something to do with their laying habits. We do get some cold weather as I am from North Central Florida. I do have a night light on in my coop and in the winter months and I put another 15 watt light on a timer to go on early in the mornings.

Also I have not seen any regularity in molting. Sometimes my birds go through a light molt and some heavier ones. It does seem like they molt more in the summer.

Here is another web site that is helpful in selecting breeds.
http://www.mypetchicken.com/breedQuestions.aspx

 

[PunkinPeep]

Quote:
How soon do your orpingtons normally start laying? I have a 23 weeker, who i'm watching. But she free ranges, so i'm afraid she might be laying in the woods or someplace i haven't looked.

 

[One Acre Wonder Farm]

Quote:
How soon do your orpingtons normally start laying? I have a 23 weeker, who i'm watching. But she free ranges, so i'm afraid she might be laying in the woods or someplace i haven't looked.

My girls were about 26 weeks old when they began to lay. I have a girl now who is about 18 weeks old but I'm not sure she's begun to lay (although she is looking pretty red in the face/comb); hopefully soon.

 

[ruralmom]

Thanks cmom that is a great site to look up birds that fit your needs, I have not even heard of some of the breeds it suggested. Two breeds they picked out was Jersey Giants and Delaware. Anyone have any experience with either?

 

[Germaine_11.20]

I experimented this past year and bought day old chicks the first week in October.
My thought was that if i had to feed them and wait for eggs why not do it during winter when typically they don't lay anyway (without artificial light). There would be less food consumption because they were young.
It worked great. I did have to keep the heat lamp on them until they feathered out, but they did just fine this past winter 10-30 degrees (water would freeze in coop) No frozen toes, combs or wattles.
I started getting eggs when they were about 25-26 weeks about the end of March. I did not use any artificial light.
They have been laying non stop an egg a day. And have not gone into molt yet.
I really liked this method.

 

[Germaine_11.20]

I forgot to add that this year I am going to focus on chicks the first of Sept. It will mean less time under the heat lamp because it is a bit warmer and then hopefully eggs a month earlier.

 

[ruralmom]

What a great idea! When did you put them outside or did you have a very insulated coop? Do you think they are going to molt later than, One AcreWonder said in a previous post they molt by age. I have had a chicken or two molt at odd times and survive. Was your last winter 'normal' for Star?

 

[twentynine]

If I understand the question---

It would be real good to get chicks in October, they would then begin laying in March early spring. Ever heard the term spring chicken--- that's where it comes from.

 

[briteday]

Jersey giants and Delawares...

I have Delawares for egglayers and am quite pleased. Some of them have already started laying by 18 weeks, small eggs...but on the large-ish side for a pullet.

Jersey giants are huge birds and they will eat a lot for the number of eggs they will produce. They are HUGE birds. So if feed is cheap maybe this isn't important. But feed is not cheap where I live so I would not choose Jersey giants for egglayers.

 

[ruralmom]

You are correct feed is not cheap. We do grow wheat and I use that as filler with laying pellet, corn and household goodies. Thanks for the note on Delawares and Giants. I think I may stick with the Golden Comet and try to make my own in the spring with a rir and white rocks. Would like to hear about the Sept chicks developement and the first eggs. You'll are going to have to forgive the newbie in me.