chartpolski 23,221 Posted September 27, 2011 Report Share Posted September 27, 2011 I've got a wee bit land of my local council, and have cleared it and put in a few raised beds for growing veggies. I've also built a hen cree from Harris fencing and a decent size coop out of ply wood. My question is; is it worth putting hens in now, or should I wait until the spring ?? Will I just be feeding them all winter, and not getting any eggs, or will they still lay if they are well housed and fed ? Cheers. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
foxdigger13 114 Posted September 27, 2011 Report Share Posted September 27, 2011 Most of my hens have stopped laying now, but I have mates who's hens are still laying a fair few, If I were you I'd wait till springtime and then buy a batch of POL hens, Cheers fd. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
artic 595 Posted September 27, 2011 Report Share Posted September 27, 2011 Nice to see more people being self sufficiant. In large fowl I have welsummers, sussex, marans plymouths ect which are still laying very well and into their 3rd year. Hens do tend to slow down in winter months, but I'm a strong believer of what type, and how much feed you're feeding them on to produce eggs for you all year round. I can't see why you can get a few for now if you can! I know most breeders would of culled or sold their unwanted stock by now. You will pay top whack in spring for any bird. If your stuck to find some pol then I have a few late hatchers in welsummer, black rocks, and Indian game (more of a bird table) available very soon and good layers. Good luck. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Moll. 1,770 Posted September 27, 2011 Report Share Posted September 27, 2011 Nice to see more people being self sufficiant. In large fowl I have welsummers, sussex, marans plymouths ect which are still laying very well and into their 3rd year. Hens do tend to slow down in winter months, but I'm a strong believer of what type, and how much feed you're feeding them on to produce eggs for you all year round. I can't see why you can get a few for now if you can! I know most breeders would of culled or sold their unwanted stock by now. You will pay top whack in spring for any bird. If your stuck to find some pol then I have a few late hatchers in welsummer, black rocks, and Indian game (more of a bird table) available very soon and good layers. Good luck. I have a couple IG X Light sussex growers here i am raising as meat birds, i think they may be a hen and cock so may keep them rather than cull to provide more next year? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bulldogman 55 Posted September 27, 2011 Report Share Posted September 27, 2011 I have six in my garden that are laying one a day still? 2 ex battery, two black marans and two sussex.... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
artic 595 Posted September 27, 2011 Report Share Posted September 27, 2011 Nice to see more people being self sufficiant. In large fowl I have welsummers, sussex, marans plymouths ect which are still laying very well and into their 3rd year. Hens do tend to slow down in winter months, but I'm a strong believer of what type, and how much feed you're feeding them on to produce eggs for you all year round. I can't see why you can get a few for now if you can! I know most breeders would of culled or sold their unwanted stock by now. You will pay top whack in spring for any bird. If your stuck to find some pol then I have a few late hatchers in welsummer, black rocks, and Indian game (more of a bird table) available very soon and good layers. Good luck. I have a couple IG X Light sussex growers here i am raising as meat birds, i think they may be a hen and cock so may keep them rather than cull to provide more next year? I use to have that cross Moll, they tasted lovely! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
leegreen 2,153 Posted September 27, 2011 Report Share Posted September 27, 2011 Get some egg laying hybrids like ISO browns and they will lay and lay and lay and lay. They are what you would call machines, admittedly it will be less but how many eggs do you want. They will lay flat out if you supplement there light. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
harrycatcat 31 Posted September 27, 2011 Report Share Posted September 27, 2011 I got 6 eggs today from 6 Lohmans, but these are hybrid birds. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hardfeather 56 Posted September 27, 2011 Report Share Posted September 27, 2011 Get some freerange exlayers they'llstill lay afew,where in the country are ya I have access to a few and can get you some Quote Link to post Share on other sites
chartpolski 23,221 Posted September 27, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 27, 2011 (edited) So, back to what I asked, if they are well fed and housed, will they lay through the winter ? Cheers. Edited September 27, 2011 by chartpolski Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gnipper 6,426 Posted September 27, 2011 Report Share Posted September 27, 2011 Proper laying hybrids will, maybe not as often as the warmer months but they will lay all year. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
artic 595 Posted September 27, 2011 Report Share Posted September 27, 2011 So, back to what I asked, if they are well fed and housed, will they lay through the winter ? Cheers. Simple answer then.......Yes but don't expect their full potential, however it will depend on what type you keep. You must condition them, worm them, treat for lice and mites ect.... Don't expect to just set them out and hope for the best. Maybe buy a book and read up Poultry Keeping before you buy. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
skycat 6,173 Posted September 27, 2011 Report Share Posted September 27, 2011 If you feed laying hybrids very well then yes, they'll lay all winter, even with the reduced light hours. I make sure mine have plenty of greens (spinach, cabbage leaves etc) lots of grass, chick weed etc. They get layers' pellets slightly moistened; I find if I moisten the food a bit then it seems to help. They also have access to parts of the veg garden which are lying fallow in winter. Also get mixed corn, as much oyster shell as they want, and in really cold weather I fill their water bowl with hot water each morning, and again in the afternoon. This might sound like a lot of fuss, but they repay me by laying all winter: maybe miss a day here and there, so 2 eggs from 4 hens a couple of days a week instead of 4. If they seem a bit thin I'll give them lamb fat and beef trimmings too: works wonders. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
k94v 12 Posted September 28, 2011 Report Share Posted September 28, 2011 I've got a wee bit land of my local council, and have cleared it and put in a few raised beds for growing veggies. I've also built a hen cree from Harris fencing and a decent size coop out of ply wood. My question is; is it worth putting hens in now, or should I wait until the spring ?? Will I just be feeding them all winter, and not getting any eggs, or will they still lay if they are well housed and fed ? Cheers. get some hens in there now they will lay in the winter not so meny eggs Quote Link to post Share on other sites
kenny14 656 Posted September 28, 2011 Report Share Posted September 28, 2011 Lots of good advice above. If they're kept well there's a good chance that the egg yield won't drop too much. Also, egg production is linked to changing patterns of daylight, so providing some sort of artificial light in the hen house will keep them in lay longer. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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