My 14 black-laced silver Wyandottes hatched 21 Sep 2022. They began laying in March 3, 2023. Thirteen of them went through a mini-molt, mostly thigh feathers, in November. Right now I have one who looks likes she's losing every feather. She's chilly in the hen house, so I'm going to bring her inside and feed her some good protein for a few days to give her a boost. I don't want to keep her out of the flock for long for fear of upsetting her place in the peck order. I have a small light on for some hours daily but it turns off an hour before sunset so they can settle down and find their roosts before sundown. Everyone should have chickens!
I agree...everyone should have chickens. Once you raise your own and see the HUGE difference in egg quality, you'll never want to buy from store again!
That's a really good tip, to stagger ages of the birds! I have 3 spring born young birds and 3 older birds - the older ones are molting and the younger are not laying yet - so my eggs have dropped off to 1 per day - not enough! More next year - i do not buy them as they produce naturally.
I have had them produce naturally twice and it is the most amazing thing to watch as the little chicks stay by the mama hen and hide under her wings! I have eggs year round using this method!
Even your young chickens do not reach their potential in winter if you do not add artificial lighting. Nature makes birds to lay in spring. Egg production goes up in spring. Shoot, even an old crow lays in spring. If you make sure your chickens have 12 to 14 hours a day of light, that production will stay up around 80 some percent in good chickens well fed. Also, chickens do not like cold feet. If you live where it snows, there is no reason at all you need to force those poor girls out in that cold. Keep deep litter in the chicken house, give them some pumpkins or something to peck on. They can stay inside. If your house is so cold the water freezes, they will quit laying. Egg production takes water. IF you can keep water from freezing, it will help. Yes, your chickens will moult but in the second year the production can still be good with good food, plenty of water and light. Production will not hit what pullets had but it can be good. Two year olds lay larger eggs though poorer shell quality generally. When fall comes and our two year olds start moulting, I just let them go one day with no water and they will all moult at once. They look terrible, they still eat plenty but won't lay until their feathers grow back but at least I don't have them dragging on forever. Once they've moulted and grown new feathers, they're right back into production.
You've never eaten them? But they are not pets. Once they stop laying for good you are feeding a non-productive farm animal. Wasted feed. Where do you get your chicken meat?
To be honest by the time they are older and ready to eat the racoons get them first. We have eaten chickens we raised. We raised a flock for meet only and did the whole processing thing etc...
Simply Amish - By D. Kraybill - amzn.to/3TU01rL
Thank you for chicken wisdom. Makes so much sense.
You are so welcome
My 14 black-laced silver Wyandottes hatched 21 Sep 2022. They began laying in March 3, 2023. Thirteen of them went through a mini-molt, mostly thigh feathers, in November. Right now I have one who looks likes she's losing every feather. She's chilly in the hen house, so I'm going to bring her inside and feed her some good protein for a few days to give her a boost. I don't want to keep her out of the flock for long for fear of upsetting her place in the peck order. I have a small light on for some hours daily but it turns off an hour before sunset so they can settle down and find their roosts before sundown. Everyone should have chickens!
I agree...everyone should have chickens. Once you raise your own and see the HUGE difference in egg quality, you'll never want to buy from store again!
That's a really good tip, to stagger ages of the birds! I have 3 spring born young birds and 3 older birds - the older ones are molting and the younger are not laying yet - so my eggs have dropped off to 1 per day - not enough! More next year - i do not buy them as they produce naturally.
I have had them produce naturally twice and it is the most amazing thing to watch as the little chicks stay by the mama hen and hide under her wings! I have eggs year round using this method!
@@LivingThatSimpleLife Yes, we consider ourselves blessed for living in the French countryside now instead of a town in the UK!
Even your young chickens do not reach their potential in winter if you do not add artificial lighting. Nature makes birds to lay in spring. Egg production goes up in spring. Shoot, even an old crow lays in spring. If you make sure your chickens have 12 to 14 hours a day of light, that production will stay up around 80 some percent in good chickens well fed.
Also, chickens do not like cold feet. If you live where it snows, there is no reason at all you need to force those poor girls out in that cold. Keep deep litter in the chicken house, give them some pumpkins or something to peck on. They can stay inside. If your house is so cold the water freezes, they will quit laying. Egg production takes water. IF you can keep water from freezing, it will help.
Yes, your chickens will moult but in the second year the production can still be good with good food, plenty of water and light. Production will not hit what pullets had but it can be good. Two year olds lay larger eggs though poorer shell quality generally.
When fall comes and our two year olds start moulting, I just let them go one day with no water and they will all moult at once. They look terrible, they still eat plenty but won't lay until their feathers grow back but at least I don't have them dragging on forever. Once they've moulted and grown new feathers, they're right back into production.
Thank you for your added tips!
You've never eaten them? But they are not pets. Once they stop laying for good you are feeding a non-productive farm animal. Wasted feed. Where do you get your chicken meat?
To be honest by the time they are older and ready to eat the racoons get them first. We have eaten chickens we raised. We raised a flock for meet only and did the whole processing thing etc...