How long should I keep my laying hens?

How long should I keep my laying hens?

A: Chickens usually don’t simply “stop” laying eggs when they get to a certain age, but they will lay fewer as they get older. That said, most laying breeds will lay more or less productively in backyard terms for five or seven years.

What to do with hens after they stop laying?

What to Do When Your Chicken Stops Laying Eggs

1. One option, especially if you have very few chickens, is to allow the older hen to contribute to the farm in other ways. Older hens are great bug catchers.
2. Another option is to cook your chickens as meat chickens.
3. The third option is to humanely dispose of a chicken.

How old do hens have to be to lay?

While most hens will start laying between 4 & 6 months old, it might just be a little too early for your hen to lay. Hang in there a few months, she should start laying in time.

When do hens stop laying after a move?

For how long each individual hen will stop laying after a move is anybodys guess, simply because they are individuals and each react to stress differently. Thanks. I figured MONTHS had to be way off. I love BYC!! Everyone is so friendly and helpful. YOU GUYS RULE! Yeah, I move mine all the time. I call it “musical chickens”.

What should I do if my hen won’t lay eggs?

In the end, if you want regular, high-quality eggs you need to start with a hybrid laying hen and feed her a high-quality diet. With the largest expense by far of any egg farm being the feed that they provide for their hens, it makes sense to provide a good one.

Why do hens not lay eggs in the winter?

Once the days cool down just a bit, all the hens go back to full time laying. Regardless of age, many hens won’t lay in winter. It actually has more to do with the hours of daylight then with the temperature. Even hens in California slow down their laying in winter.

While most hens will start laying between 4 & 6 months old, it might just be a little too early for your hen to lay. Hang in there a few months, she should start laying in time.

Why are my laying hens not laying well?

Stress can cause your hens to stop laying. What causes them to have stress? Allowing them to get frightened or handled to much, letting them run out of food or water, moving them to a different pen or coop, or disrupting their pecking order can all cause stress. 3. Feed Laying hens need a balanced diet to lay well.

When do Hens start laying again after molting?

Molting generally lasts about 2 month s as their feathers fall out and grow back in. Hens will start laying again when their molt is done. Illness can take its toll on a laying hen. As her body is fighting to get better, egg production might stop. She should start laying again shortly after she gets better.

What to do if your chicken has stopped laying?

If your chickens have stopped laying, then offering a vitamin supplement might be necessary. While it can be hard to pin point the exact deficiency without bloodwork or at least a vet exam, there’s 4 possible reasons your hens might be vitamin or mineral deficient if your chickens have stopped laying.