Will layers skip a few months if I don't provide lighting in coop?

[lovemychicks]

Hi, everyone, I am very happy to find this site. I've learned a lot since the I came here. I am currently raising several layers, and they are 25 weeks now. No eggs at all. It's been quite cold and the daylight definitely is less than 14 hours a day. I wish I knew this much earlier, but I just found it out in this forum yesterday! Now my question is, if I don't give them a light in the winter, when will they start laying? Next spring? They will be 30+ weeks by then. What should I do now? Please advise. Thank you all!

Crystal

 

[Wildsky]

I had young hens last year and they all started laying their first eggs in winter. Not to worry - you will get eggs, perhaps very slowly but they will come.

 

[Wildsky]

 

[lovemychicks]

Thank you, Wildsky.

How old were your chickens when they started laying? I heard that most chickens start laying at 20 - 24 weeks old, and my layers are 25 weeks old now and none of them laying eggs. I can't help asking why everyday recently.

 

[Wildsky]

Mine were right around 22 weeks or so - it was Febuary this year when they started. It is very hard to wait - but they WILL lay eventually, I promise!

 

[lovemychicks]

I believe they won't disappoint me eventually, now I'm just too desperately waiting to see the very first egg.

More patience, more patience, I keep telling myself, one day they'll surprise me.

 

[Wildsky]

Right about when you GIVE up all HOPE - there will be a PERFECT little egg neatly in the middle of the nest box. You'll be grinning for a week at least!

 

[lovemychicks]

When it comes, I will be grinning for more than a week and tell everybody I know till they get bored. LOL.

 

[computer_chicken]

Yes this is a wonderful site for learning about chickens in every aspect. My 3 Buff Orpingtons and 1 Buff Rock are now 25 weeks old and not 1 egg so far. So your not alone, I'm waiting patiently also.

:

 

[All about the EGG]

I have 5 sexlinks...and once they started, look out. Egg laying machines! Patience grasshopper...