I have a plan…
I always use broody hens to raise my new chicks with the flock. Last years group of four, acquired on May 8, have been laying steadily for the last few weeks, along with their first time momma, a June 29, 2023 hatch.
I’m thinking that this early May hatch will be what I do again this year. I’d rather get them when it’s warm outside and have them lay during the winter than fuss with cold weather and late summer first eggs, only to have them molt and stop laying in November. Momma was able to take them outside after 12 days to enjoy the world.
On May 25th, I adopted two pullets who were hatched on March 24th. Once they acclimated to the flock they slowly began to lay. By mid October they began a hard molt and have not laid since. I expect they will in a few weeks when the days are longer.
I also adopted an abandoned injured pullet, broken wing with a horrible infection, who began laying on December 30. She is now laying on a fairly regular schedule, the eggs are slowly getting larger. I’m guessing she was a June hatch, and probably a battery hen. She gets to forage with the flock outdoors on nice days for a few hours before dark, but lives inside in a fairly large brooder/hospice/quarantine cage. I expect to let her join the flock full time in early spring.
I wonder if hatch timing, summer vs February or spring, has an effect on chicken health… it certainly seems to make a difference in Off Season egg production for my backyard flock.
Short version:
May 8 hatch laying now
June 29 hatch laying now
March 24 hatch finishing hard molt
Cheers,
Tim
I always use broody hens to raise my new chicks with the flock. Last years group of four, acquired on May 8, have been laying steadily for the last few weeks, along with their first time momma, a June 29, 2023 hatch.
I’m thinking that this early May hatch will be what I do again this year. I’d rather get them when it’s warm outside and have them lay during the winter than fuss with cold weather and late summer first eggs, only to have them molt and stop laying in November. Momma was able to take them outside after 12 days to enjoy the world.
On May 25th, I adopted two pullets who were hatched on March 24th. Once they acclimated to the flock they slowly began to lay. By mid October they began a hard molt and have not laid since. I expect they will in a few weeks when the days are longer.
I also adopted an abandoned injured pullet, broken wing with a horrible infection, who began laying on December 30. She is now laying on a fairly regular schedule, the eggs are slowly getting larger. I’m guessing she was a June hatch, and probably a battery hen. She gets to forage with the flock outdoors on nice days for a few hours before dark, but lives inside in a fairly large brooder/hospice/quarantine cage. I expect to let her join the flock full time in early spring.
I wonder if hatch timing, summer vs February or spring, has an effect on chicken health… it certainly seems to make a difference in Off Season egg production for my backyard flock.
Short version:
May 8 hatch laying now
June 29 hatch laying now
March 24 hatch finishing hard molt
Cheers,
Tim
