too late to get laying chickens

[gardengeordie]

Hi all,

i have eventually finished the chicken run and i was wondering if it was to late to get
layer chickens, and will they lay in winter?

thanks

[Small pumpkin]

Ex battery hens will be laying in a couple of weeks (with lots of TLC) , once they've settled in.

[SarrissUK]

I got very young chickens in June a couple of years ago, they started to lay in the autumn but not for very long. When it gets dark over winter they tend to stop laying, unless you have lamps for them, which I find is not cost effective for my two chickens.

[muddled]

no, in a word!

Once a chicken starts to lay she's a layer!
She may take a week or two off while she settles in to her new home, and pure breeds generally stop during the winter months...but you can get layers at any time of year.

What type of hens are you planning to buy?
I prefer pure breeds myself although I do have one 'accidental' hybrid (a result of illicit love in the coop rather than a bird bred to lay more eggs) along with two cream legbars and a rather awesome Sumatran Black.

[Scarlet]

I think the Summer is perfect time to pick up a few hens. Hybrids are more likly to lay through winter than traditional pure breeds. Ive always found that if they start laying In Autumn they usually carry onthrough the winter, pure breeds probably don't lay every day but you will get a few.
Very rarely will pure breeds lay in their second winter although often hybrids will. Same as Muddled here though - I only keep pure breeds.
I save my eggs and freeze for winter use, it's a bit like courgette gluts

[alldigging]

Cheshire Chickens
These were laying a couple of days after they arrived. (Not mine but someone on sites.) they've only had them a couple of weeks.

[gardengeordie]

hi we were looking at hybrids such as

gingernut rangers
rhode rock
speck ledy e.t.c. but also like the look of the pure breeds :-)

[Scarlet]

You should be able to get young point of lay now. They are usually sold from around 12weeks of age. Hybrids will start laying from around 16 weeks. Pure breeds around 24weeks. Don't get the first ones you see. Make sure you have a good look around at all the birds to ensure they are kept well.
Have you started looking for any that are available near you?

[gardengeordie]

Yes went out a month ago to have a look at them locally and they seem well kept and are vaccinated didn't want to leave it to late if they stopped laying over winter

[Scarlet]

its just luck if they lay over winter to be honest. Hybrids tend too, especially in their first year, though their egg production will be lower.

[gardengeordie]

thanks very much looking forward to getting some chooks :-)