[Alby]

Still building my run but should be ready soon  Which means I will be starting in Winter  :roll:  Is this an OK time to get new hens. I want point of lay of something ( watch out for another post   ) so not wee chicks.
The house is a long way from home, it will be dry and draft proof .  Any advice

      Cheers   Alan

[SnooziSuzi]

if you are ready to receive them then it should be OK to get POL hens, however, seeing as it's coming to winter they may not lay very much if at all before spring.

Still, I suppose that gives them some time to get used to you and where they live etc  

[poultrygeist]

Hi Alby.

We got ours at 18 weeks in January and they came into lay abotu 6 weeks later so it's a good chance to get them settled in and get to know them.
Be warned though, it's rough letting them out/cleaning and putting to bed when it's -3 and 40mph wind     ...and it's even worse where you are  

They are usually pretty hardy as long as they have all they need.

Rob

[richyrich7]

Hi Alby I always get mine in the Autumn for a few good reasons. : All the POL I've had have always laid consistently through out the winter no problems with light you might not get full 6 eggs a week/ bird but its not far off,
Secondly they have a longer period of lay to their 1st moult, Autumn to Autumn, rather than Spring to Autumn like Spring POL.

If your ready for them I'd not hesitate.  

[GrannieAnnie]

Well I hope the rest of our Amberlinks go, I won't know what to do with 100 eggs a day if they all start laying while they are still here!!!! lol

[Alby]

Thanks all,  About feeding and cleaning in the winter............................................. my good wife has agreed to look after them     in return for a ( very ) early retirement ,. :cheers:

  Looks like I,ll be getting them soon

       Cheers Alan

[poultrygeist]

Congrats all round  

Keep us updated on progress.

Rob

[sandra d]

What breed are you getting Alan?. Also, where are you getting them from. I got the wood for the run today and the mesh should come tomorrow, so the run will be ready soon. The Eglu is sitting in the middle of the living room as we speak. All I need now are the hens.

[GrannieAnnie]

If you get hybrid POL's they are more likely to lay through the first winter than pure breeds I believe.  One of our customers told me she had her first egg today from one of her Amberlinks and they were only 18 weeks old yesterday!

[Bodger]

Get them at anytime of the year, just as long as it suits you. Don't worry about the winter, even if you had them in the summer you've still got to feed and clean them out through the winter.

[Vember]

Hi Alby

Looks like your question has been answered  

Just wanted to point you in the direction of what to look for in new hens, it's full of great info which might be useful

New Hens

Sarah

[Alby]

What a great response Thanks !!
Dont know what sort I will be getting but they will have to be from a local breeder I suppose so local conditions wont be a shock to them ( Northumberland is Gods fridge !!   )

Work on my run has slowed down a lot as I have found huge amounts of plastics just under the suface and will need to be cleared. It looks like old black plastic mulch  :x anb bottles.  Still think of the callories I will lose  :shock:
       Cheers  Alan

[garddwr]

Good luck with your chooks and building your run

[sandra d]

Alan,
I bought my hens yesterday and have just had my first egg.
Sandra

[compostqueen]

Wow, Well done. I pictured you in your living room with the Eglu and chickens in it. Too cold to go out there with it