The Cottage Smallholder
stumbling self sufficiency in a small space
Log In
Register
Home
Topic RSS
12:10 pm
2nd Grader
Sat 19-Dec-09
Offline
Ok people another question for you!
I know it must of been asked before, We got our girls about a month ago, they are hybrid hens and were at the point of laying which i understand is between 16-20 weeks, however did not know how long the lady has had them.
They have all settled in very well eating and drinking and exploring the garden with great interest.
Would like to know when we might start see some eggs?
I understand it's about the amount of daylight and have read that some chickens start laying in January, also read that someone had chickens for a most a year before they started laying.
Any ideas guy's, look forward to hearing your thoughts.
Regards Adam..
2:03 pm
Sat 12-Aug-06
Offline
Yes indeed, Adam. We bought our first 6 chooks one August "on point of lay". It was a long wait until the following January!
Ours will restart about mid-Jan, or at least that has been their pattern.
Does anybody else know of other factors that influence laying patterns?
Never knowingly underfed
6:25 pm
2nd Grader
Tue 22-Dec-09
Offline
if they are early hybrids, hatched the first qtr of 09.. and if they started laying before winter, they may continue right through.. if not, they should start laying after the next bout of sunny weather.. if they are the previouse years birds.. i think your probably looking at mid feb to march.. if they are pure breds
..any time within the next 12 months
.. my eggs started increasing just before xmas..all that lurvelly frosty sunshine..
gary
10:42 am
Supreme Being
Thu 24-Sep-09
Offline
Slithered out this morning to feed hens, ducks wild birds etc. as usual. Got mugged by four robins and two blackbirds because I was a bit late - my bed was extremely cosy and none of the dogs seemed to want to get up either, sheer bliss. Anyway, despite not looking so happy in this freezing weather, I discovered that one of my girls had laid me an egg. Not a blue one like before in November, but a beautiful big white egg. Tell me how is it in this modern world with shops and supermarkets with everything you could ever want in them, that one white smooth egg should give such pleasure and a tremendous feeling of satisfaction?
Old teachers never die, they just lose their class
1:30 pm
Moderators
Tue 22-Sep-09
Offline
Imagine being mugged by the wildlife! Glad you are feeding your wild as well as domestic creatures. I think you got the satisfaction of the white egg because there was no supermarket involved in its production. Did it taste good too?
I'll try that again!
2:52 pm
3rd Grader
New members
Wed 23-Sep-09
Offline
I got my 2 girls in May, would be at point of lay in august and we havent had one single egg yet.... Living the life of reilly my two - and im getting nowt!! LOL
8:00 pm
Supreme Being
Mon 21-Sep-09
Offline
My hens took a long time to lay, happy as Larry they were but no eggs, they got called Soup, Hotpot and Stew because if they didn't get on with it that is what they were going to be. Still we had them for quite a while and when they finally stopped laying for good they continued to fertilise the garden. 
10:16 pm
Sat 12-Aug-06
Offline
Welcome, jojo - I have to ask the obvious - are you sure they are girls? 
Never knowingly underfed
10:43 am
3rd Grader
New members
Wed 23-Sep-09
Offline
Yep - we did have 3 and one was very obviously a cock so we got rid of it, keeping the 2 hens. Would have been point of lay end of august/september but none yet!
11:46 am
Senior Class
Mon 14-Sep-09
Offline
Anyone further south got any eggs yet, friends in Scotland had them in the new year, family in Wales 2 weeks ago, anyone raise me or see me????
Wondering how much longer I will need to keep buying them, and when I will be inundated.... why is keeping chooks a case of feast or famine? Also wondering when I am inundated, what do people do with their surplus, apart from pressing them into the hands of every visitor who comes whether they want them or not, (do that already), and if anyone mentions pickled eggs......
Last year we provided some friends with eggs all year for a trailer of wood from their land that had been cut down, but no trees this year so.......?????????
Does anyone freeze and how, only just got a 'real' freezer so would love to know if this is possible.
Thanks Rachael
10:59 pm
Sat 12-Aug-06
Offline
Raenbow, we had our first two eggs of the season in the past 10 days. Both probably from a new layer. Our tiny flock is growing older, so less productive.
I never hear of freezing but, years ago (like 40), my mum used to store the summer eggs in an old tin bathtub filled with an isinglass solution, Those eggs kept us going through most of the winter months. Although, perhaps our nanny state and the Health and Safety regulations may have different views these days. I have not Googled it.
Never knowingly underfed
11:04 pm
Supreme Being
Thu 24-Sep-09
Offline
I'm getting about three eggs a day now and It's great to go into the henhouse in the morning knowing there will be eggs. Mind you it is really freezing again tonight so perhaps I am speaking too confidently.
Old teachers never die, they just lose their class
10:23 am
2nd Grader
Sat 19-Dec-09
Offline
People your making me jealous still no eggs! However my hens are young about 21-24 weeks.
Have been told to wait untill it warms up abit. We are in the south of the country but people in the north have seen eggs.
Cant wait!
8:19 pm
2nd Grader
New members
Sun 31-Jan-10
Offline
It's probably just due to the winter, but it might be a good idea to check for red mites...just in case.
If the chickens are suffering from mites this can put them off laying.
If this is the case...
Apparently, pouring coke into any crevices in the coup will disolve the coating on the mites and they will die. Also, adding a small amount of crushed garlic into the chook's water will make them distasteful to the mites.
12:30 pm
Senior Class
Mon 14-Sep-09
Offline
Thanks Davewbrown, do the garlic thing already, think it's probably just cold and as we're a long way south, shorter days. Spoke to another expat and she had had some eggs last week, so maybe soon. You could be right Danny, our girls are 2, so not new layers, how long do they lay for? I also have less hens than last year, and 1 old girl who we inherited is not laying anymore. Oh well, looks like I may have to buy eggs again this week!
Have heard of isinglass solution, not sure I could get it here, and sure you are right about H&S. But Im sure I read once you can freeze them (whisked possibly) and use them in cakes etc. But don't quote me, I may have made that up!!
Most Users Ever Online: 767
Currently Online:
21 Guest(s)
Currently Browsing this Page:
1 Guest(s)
Top Posters:
brightspark: 10532
danast: 10232
Aly: 9516
Sooliz: 8084
Hattie: 6920
Ambersparkle: 6699
JoannaS: 4800
Terrier: 4518
eileen54: 4424
Hannah: 4231
Member Stats:
Guest Posters: 10
Members: 16171
Moderators: 2
Admins: 2
Forum Stats:
Groups: 6
Forums: 25
Topics: 2295
Posts: 123081
Newest Members:
Doublesden, naoum, brunorogers, Weismart, renesmith97, KarenFields21Moderators: Toffeeapple: 16337, AdminTA: 10
Administrators: fn: 333, Danny: 5516
Copyright © 2006-2012 Cottage Smallholder Our Privacy Policy Advertise on Cottage Smallholder
