Winter flock egg laying expectations

[Emmett]

I have a newly acquired flock of 30 hens, most have just finished a molt and the flock ranges in age from 6 months to 3 years (my guess on the high end) with the large portion of them being 1-2 years old. They have artificial light and lay between 6-9 eggs a day with plenty of food and water. This seems low but all my flocks in the past I haven't supplemented with light in the winter so I'm not sure if I have an unrealistic expectation. 6-9 eggs a day is fine if this is winter laying....what I'm trying to figure out is if I need to order and get more hens prepped for laying this summer or not. What I don't want to do is buy a bunch of chicks just to figure out my current flocks is going to be laying 15+ eggs a day starting this spring.

The flock is about half dual purpose half leghorn.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Production here normally picks up here around March. I have slowly been getting more eggs. It will continue to increase slowly. I don't add extra lights. Using them may negate a bit of the normal spring surge which happens from increasing daylight and warmer temperatures, at least here.

Feeding a higher protein ration can optimize laying. Often older hens need more than the minimum a layer ration provides.

Laying throughout the season goes up and down generally in a somewhat predictable manner with a big increase in spring and a slowing in the heat of summer than another small surge in fall until it mostly stops for the molt.

If you want continuous production adding a few new pullet yearly will help. Most hens over 3 are sporadic layers.

 

[Folly's place]

I do add some extra lighting, but not enough, apparently. I have forty hens and pullets, and maybe six to eight eggs per day right now. It's SLOW, but will pick up in spring.
Mary

 

[Emmett]

I do add some extra lighting, but not enough, apparently. I have forty hens and pullets, and maybe six to eight eggs per day right now. It's SLOW, but will pick up in spring.
Mary

Okay this is REALLY good to know!!!!! I don't want to create a massive flock making more eggs than I can support. If you flock has slowed down to that level with artificial light then I'm probably right where I want to be!

 

[aart]

They have artificial light

What are the details of how you are adding light....timer, duration, when started, etc?

I use lights too and have had varying success....it didn't keep the pullets laying all winter this year(slackers!) but hens are now coming back into lay.
You'll have a ton of eggs this spring and summer, but maybe not next fall/winter.
Balancing the 'replacement' layers is tricky.
I add chicks ...and cull older hens...every year.

 

[Emmett]

I have light on a timer with a darkness sensor (6 hours currently). I started adding light late October I think although I can't remember. Thanks for the info, I might add a few chicks but keep it low and see how the season goes. I also need to decide if I stay with dual purpose hens so I can cull for meat or more production hens which don't have much meat on their bones.....definitely will need to do some flock decreases this Fall to keep laying up.

 

[Folly's place]

Your breed choices will likely evolve over time; mine sure did! Mary

 

[Aceoky]

Economically IMHO it doesn't "pay" to keep them over 2 years old they eat more & lay less, though keeping a few older hens around to show the new gals the ropes is IMO a good idea. 2 years of eggs plus the meat they provide is a pretty good deal I believe, just keep new layers coming in (whether you hatch or buy) . Of course if they're pets it's not a matter of "paying" but if they're mostly livestock the above seems to be the "best" way of doing it IMO

 

[aart]

I have light on a timer with a darkness sensor (6 hours currently).

So light comes on when it's dark and stays on for 6 hours?

 

[Emmett]

Your breed choices will likely evolve over time; mine sure did! Mary

Mind sharing? I would love to hear.