Winter Layers?

[NewBoots]

We'll be living in an area with wet but mild winters and I'm wondering if we'll need to include winter layers in our flock? I know that some breeds won't lay in the winter but is that true whether the winters are mild or harsh? What experience have you folks had?

 

[Crazy for Chickens!]

You should be fine with what you have. Mostly it is the light that affects them. When it gets dark so early in the evening, they don't lay as much, so sometimes people put lights in their coop. There aren't really any breeds that are going to lay in the winter just as if it were summer. Most pullets will lay through the winter just fine, but after the first year, the eggs will decrease slightly.

 

[Justso]

Check out Dorkings, noted for their winter laying.

 

[ShayB]

My Russian Orloff's are laying pretty consistently here in the PNW

 

[NewBoots]

My Russian Orloff's are laying pretty consistently here in the PNW

The Orloffs almost look like partridge. Thanks all I'm making notes.

 

[aart]

Most pullets will lay through the winter just fine, but after the first year, the eggs will decrease slightly.

Yes......or a lot due to molting and light.

 

[JedJackson]

I live in the PNW also, and I agree with Crazy for Chickens. It's not so much the breed as it is getting some new pullets each year that will lay through winter. Most of the older gals will stop or at least slow down in the winter. Some breeds are said to be better layers in the winter, including Dorkings and barred rocks, but I've had both, and don't notice much difference. Easter eggers are said not to lay well in winter, but again, I've not seen much difference.

 

[Ridgerunner]

We'll be living in an area with wet but mild winters and I'm wondering if we'll need to include winter layers in our flock? I know that some breeds won't lay in the winter but is that true whether the winters are mild or harsh? What experience have you folks had?

My experiences are that most (not all) dual purpose breed pullets from hatcheries in the US will lay through their first winter, depending on when they are hatched. They continue to lay until the following fall, when they molt and stop laying while they use the nutrition that was making eggs to make feathers instead. I do not extend lights or feed them special when they are molting.

Many of these dual purpose breed hens will start laying again when they finish the molt, regardless of the time of the year. Some may finish the molt in a couple of months or even less, some may take five months. That's due to genetics and how fast the fathers fall out, not how fast they grow back after they fall out. Some will wait until warmer weather and the days get longer to start laying. It depends a lot on the individual. I did say most, not all.

Ornamental breeds generally lay fewer eggs and are less likely to lay in the winter. Again note that I said generally. You can always find exceptions. This kind of stuff is not absolute. It's not a case of all of a certain breed will while all of a certain different breed will not. It just doesn't work that way with living animals.

The dual purpose breeds from hatcheries I have direct experience with are Sussex, Orpington, Black Australorp, Delaware, and Rocks. I also had true Ameraucana from a breeder, they also laid really well because she was breeding them to lay well. Some other dual purpose breeds I would expect to follow my dual purpose pattern are Rhode Island Reds or Whites, Wyandotte, New Hampshire, Marans, Welsummer, Buckeye, Dorking, Naked Necks (Turkens), and Chantecler. I'm sure I'm missing several.

 

[Crazy for Chickens!]

Yes......or a lot due to molting and light.

True, the pullets don't molt, so maybe that is part of it, or maybe they are just young.

 

[aart]

True, the pullets don't molt, so maybe that is part of it, or maybe they are just young.

It's both...goes hand in hand.