Yearly Laying Habits

[Fanci Feathers Marans]

Okay, I live in Missouri, USA. When do chickens in this region start laying again after winter? Daylight savings time starts back up March of next year. That means there is longer days, right? I don't know. I'm getting an itch to hatch some chicks, but know it's best for them (and me) to wait until after winter, so that the warm days are ahead of them. Then of course, they quit laying in winter. I CAN'T HATCH CHICKS WITH NO EGGS!

I've looked at supplemental lighting, but I'm worried the fertility will still decline, and I want the best possible hatch because I am getting expensive breeder eggs to hatch with my own hens' eggs.

When do your hens start laying in the spring?

 

[Top Rooster]

My hens never stop laying, they lay through the fall and winter although their egg production does go down but it isn't too bad I'd probably get about 4-6 eggs during the winter from 10 hens and during spring and summer I get 7-10. I think the roosters mate enough I wouldn't worry about fertility. I live in Oklahoma so the temperatures are only slightly warmer and I've hatched eggs from a broody hen in October and it was just fine.

 

[Fanci Feathers Marans]

My hens never stop laying, they lay through the fall and winter although their egg production does go down but it isn't too bad I'd probably get about 4-6 eggs during the winter from 10 hens and during spring and summer I get 7-10. I think the roosters mate enough I wouldn't worry about fertility. I live in Oklahoma so the temperatures are only slightly warmer and I've hatched eggs from a broody hen in October and it was just fine.

Broodys are great, aren't they? I would have to run a heat lamp out there, which is not a big deal because I have a mobile coop, but will the decreasing daylight effect their growth?

Ugh. You're making me want to hatch them now. Which I could, but I want to give them the best possible start. I don't know.

 

[junebuggena]

Okay, I live in Missouri, USA. When do chickens in this region start laying again after winter? Daylight savings time starts back up March of next year. That means there is longer days, right? I don't know. I'm getting an itch to hatch some chicks, but know it's best for them (and me) to wait until after winter, so that the warm days are ahead of them. Then of course, they quit laying in winter. I CAN'T HATCH CHICKS WITH NO EGGS!

I've looked at supplemental lighting, but I'm worried the fertility will still decline, and I want the best possible hatch because I am getting expensive breeder eggs to hatch with my own hens' eggs.

When do your hens start laying in the spring?

Here are the basics, after the summer solstice, days start getting shorter. This triggers the annual adult molt. Some birds molt very quickly and others molt very slowly. Some will resume laying as soon as they are back into good condition. Others won't resume laying again till the days begin to lengthen after the solstice in December. Generally, they need about 12 hours of daylight for optimum peak production. Less daylight equals fewer eggs. At 8 hours a day, production will stop. And the daylight doesn't just affect hens. Decreased daylight also has an impact on a rooster's fertility. Expect what eggs you do get for hatching in winter to have a lot more infertiles than you are used to. Last year, with two roosters, about 30% of my eggs were viable.

 

[The Moonshiner]

I'm in Missouri.
Ours drop to half production at best in the winter. They start to pick back up in late February early march usually. By the end of march early April they're almost full production.
I hatch all year long. But at a lot less rate through fall and winter. I like to hatch my replacement breeders in late fall so by spring they're ready to lay. Its a bit of a pain sometimes (you know Missouri weather) but for me it makes more sense with the timing.
I brood in garage and then barn in winter so the shorter day light isn't relavent.

 

[Fanci Feathers Marans]

I'm in Missouri.
Ours drop to half production at best in the winter. They start to pick back up in late February early march usually. By the end of march early April they're almost full production.
I hatch all year long. But at a lot less rate through fall and winter. I like to hatch my replacement breeders in late fall so by spring they're ready to lay. Its a bit of a pain sometimes (you know Missouri weather) but for me it makes more sense with the timing.
I brood in garage and then barn in winter so the shorter day light isn't relavent.

Glad to hear I'm not losing my mind, hatching in the off season. I've been checking for bullseyes in the eggs we eat lately, and so far, they have been really good.
That may be the straw that broke the camel's back. It's incubator time.

 

[Cindy in PA]

My girls that go through molt actually start to pick up right after the winter solstice on December 21. Daylight savings time does not add any daylight no matter how the weathermen try to explain it! It just changes when it's light according to our clocks!

 

[aart]

When do your hens start laying in the spring?

When they darn well please!
Haha! Sorry, couldn't resist some smartassery!
So many variables, including the individual birds, I could give no pat answer anyways.

 

[Fanci Feathers Marans]

When they darn well please!
Haha! Sorry, couldn't resist some smartassery!
So many variables, including the individual birds, I could give no pat answer anyways.

Sounds about right. Sometimes I can't even depend on eggs in the spring because everyone goes broody. Chickens.