Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Poultry and Pets => The Hen House => Topic started by: Bonniebean on January 08, 2010, 15:41

Title: Egg question!
Post by: Bonniebean on January 08, 2010, 15:41
How long does an egg laying period last? I only have one laying at present and she is almost up to one a day (was three days and one off, now four days and one off). I eggspect they are all slightly different but a guide would be helpful! Thanks, Sue
Title: Re: Egg question!
Post by: Jilly Pickles on January 08, 2010, 15:50
Ours go slower in the winter, getting on average 2 a day from 6 chooks.

In the summer we average 5 a day.

Jilly.
Title: Re: Egg question!
Post by: IMOmimey on January 08, 2010, 17:21
It varies considerably between breeds, and also between individual girlies. When you look at breed standards etc, som breeds lay 120-150 per year, up to some (particularly hybrids) lay up to 300 a year. Chickens are born with a set number of potential eggs, lay most of them throughout the first year, nearly as many the second year, tailing off through each subsequent year.So it just means the more you get in the early years , the less as they age.

my hybrids lay nearly every day through spring and summer, sporadically in autumn, then from the moult and through winter, until the days get longer again, they rarely lay. However, my pure breed silkies lay about 10 days or so consecutively, then go broody. They even lay through  the winter.
Title: Re: Egg question!
Post by: doodoo on January 08, 2010, 18:31
Got our 3 goldlines in April and have had 2/3 eggs a day since, even up to now, bless them  :)
Title: Re: Egg question!
Post by: Bonniebean on January 09, 2010, 07:04
Thanks for the guide - mine are all pure breeds and I had it in my head that maybe they would lay for a couple of months and then have a break for a few weeks. I am keeping a diary so that I can have a rough idea for each ones laying habits, just in case of any illness or laying problems.