re: Tell me about raising chickens

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Is there any kind of timeline on how long they lay?

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Depends upon the breed, but generally it's related to hours of daylight. 12-14 hrs per day generates maximum egg production. Need a minimum of 8 hrs for any egg production.

They lay in declining cycles that are interrupted by molts.



Eliminate most stressors, and a good hen will lay well for 4-5 years.

Example of Stressors: Roosters, overcrowding, any period of time without water, not feeding on a regular schedule, harassment from dogs or other predators, lack of trees or some kind of cover (they're just domesticated jungle fowl)

Feed consumption is anywhere from 2.0 to 5.5 oz per bird per day. Depends on what they get from foraging, temperature, size of bird. But don't overfeed. Feed in the morning and their feeder should be empty by the end of the day.

Feed a 50/50 mix of "layer" with "scratch" feeds. Adjust according to foraging and yolk appearance...more foraging=less scratch. Less foraging = more scratch.

Large breed birds=200 eggs/yr
Commercial layers=270 eggs/yr

They'll lay year round if you have a light in their coop with a timer. Ensure redundancy (2 lights on 2 timers for when something fails (a sudden change in light hours can induce a molt and cause egg production to cease for 2 months).

I have egg production down to a science, so just let me know if you have any questions

(my oldest son sold organic eggs from 7th-12th grade with a flock of 15-20 hens...it paid for his first 3 semesters of college.)