Angela Giacalone

One more question though! If they don't end up laying over the winter, though from what you're saying it sounds like they might, do I just keep them on grower all winter? Thanks!

Skandi Rogers wrote:It's going to depend on the breed, we found that production breeds lay throughout the winter (I'm 57N) at around 3 a week without lighting, but old breeds stop around October and don't start again until march. SO if you have a production chicken I would expect eggs from them this year, they don't need layer feed until they start laying, just make sure they have plenty of grit and oyster shell (or other calcium supplement) available all the time. If you want to increase the number of eggs you get in the winter you can add a standard light-bulb on a timer to the coop, set it to come on early in the morning and so that they get around 14-15 hours of light a day.

Thanks! Yeah, they are production hens, not heritage breeds. Ameraucana is what a few of them were listed as, but I'm pretty sure they're Easter Eggers, and the other 3 are Production Blue. I do have one rooster. Will he be okay with the layer feed when I switch them? It'd be really difficult to give him something different....

Thanks so much!

Hi there,

This is my first time with chickens. My chickens are coming of age to start laying, but its getting pretty cold up here in the PNW. Should I switch them to layer feed even though they haven't started laying yet? Will I even get eggs this year, or not until spring since its getting cold and dark? Thanks! I'm a newbie!

Chickens are approx 22 weeks, but the people at the feed store told us to just keep them on grower until they start laying, however, is this true even if they don't lay until spring due to weather?

Thanks so much!

Angela

Mike Jay wrote:Yup, I was trying to indicate my difinitiveness with my dollar amount :)   I've found that the prettier chicks with more colors usually end up being the roosters.

Thanks 🙏

Mike Jay wrote:I'd put $3 on it being a rooster.   Welcome to Permies!

3 whole dollars aye? 😂 thanks. I think it might be... tail feathers are getting long and comb has three rows and is getting bigger than the others... either rooster or long tailed hen with a bad attitude ..

Thanks for the welcome!!

Hi there!! New to the forum and homesteading and this is my first time raising chickens. What do you guys think... hen or rooster. 2 months old