egg production

shaun · **Joined:** Mon Jul 18, 2011 2:45 pm **Posts:** 21

Hi guys. I'm very new to this chook caper & I was hoping someone would be able to tell me what is considered to be normal egg production for chooks at this time of the year. The fella I bought the birds off told me not to expect any eggs for a while but I have been getting a few, probably a dozen or so in the first week. I got 4 australorp & 2 langshan all of them are bantam pullets. I've been feeding them laying pellets as well as bread & fruit & veg scrap. Thanks for taking the time to read this.

Petite Poulet · **Joined:** Thu Jun 09, 2011 7:17 pm **Posts:** 5219

Congratulations, Shaun!

Any photos of your carport coop and chooks???

I think that the number of eggs you get per day would depend on the breed and age of your chooks and also the season. Some breeds are more prolific layers than others and the weather also determines this as they tend to slow down when they moult and in winter.

beaktime · **Joined:** Tue Jun 14, 2011 9:51 am **Posts:** 48

Is it the lanshan that are laying most of the eggs. Right now is when they should be laying strong, as long as they are getting adaquate food and water.

OakA · **Posted:** Thu Sep 22, 2011 7:08 am

Hi Shaun,
With 6 hens you would expect to be getting a few more than a dozen eggs a week at this time of the year, in spring they should be in full lay, winter is behind them as is the last moult and the next some time off yet.
However it could be a situation of location (mine here in high cold country are just coming into lay and others have chickens already I have not began to set yet) and moving as well as change of feed, it could be a few weeks until they settle in and come back onto lay.
The breeds you have selected are both noted for thier egg production but as bantams would not be expected to lay as well as thier standard counterparts.
This is because no "selection pressure" has been applied to egg production, selection more on the characteristics of size and form for exhibition.
This is a situation with a lot of breeds and they do not lay as well as the breeds were reputed to in the past.
If you just want the pleasure of having fowls and a few eggs for the house then all is well.
If it is eggs that are your primary interest then maybe 4 commercial layers would suit your needs better.
The alternative is to apply selection pressure for production by identifying the better layers and only breeding from these and use a male whose dam was a good layer.With time and selection you will build up a reliable bantam line of good layers.
Hope this has helped answer your question.

shaun · **Joined:** Mon Jul 18, 2011 2:45 pm **Posts:** 21

Petite Poulet wrote:

Congratulations, Shaun!

Any photos of your carport coop and chooks???

I think that the number of eggs you get per day would depend on the breed and age of your chooks and also the season. Some breeds are more prolific layers than others and the weather also determines this as they tend to slow down when they moult and in winter.

Sorry about the photos. As I'm somewhat technologically retarted I asked my 17 yr old son to post some for me but he said it was taking forever & he couldn't do it.

shaun · **Joined:** Mon Jul 18, 2011 2:45 pm **Posts:** 21

beaktime wrote:

Is it the lanshan that are laying most of the eggs. Right now is when they should be laying strong, as long as they are getting adaquate food and water.

They're getting plenty of food & water. I have no idea on how to tell which chook laid what. I only know how many eggs/day total. I was thinking of keeping a ledger to keep track. So far only 11 days, usually 2/day, best day was 4, worst day was 1.

shaun · **Joined:** Mon Jul 18, 2011 2:45 pm **Posts:** 21

Oaklands wrote:

Hi Shaun,
With 6 hens you would expect to be getting a few more than a dozen eggs a week at this time of the year, in spring they should be in full lay, winter is behind them as is the last moult and the next some time off yet.
However it could be a situation of location (mine here in high cold country are just coming into lay and others have chickens already I have not began to set yet) and moving as well as change of feed, it could be a few weeks until they settle in and come back onto lay.
The breeds you have selected are both noted for thier egg production but as bantams would not be expected to lay as well as thier standard counterparts.
This is because no "selection pressure" has been applied to egg production, selection more on the characteristics of size and form for exhibition.
This is a situation with a lot of breeds and they do not lay as well as the breeds were reputed to in the past.
If you just want the pleasure of having fowls and a few eggs for the house then all is well.
If it is eggs that are your primary interest then maybe 4 commercial layers would suit your needs better.
The alternative is to apply selection pressure for production by identifying the better layers and only breeding from these and use a male whose dam was a good layer.With time and selection you will build up a reliable bantam line of good layers.
Hope this has helped answer your question.

Thanks for that. I'm in Queanbeyan & we're still getting cold nights here. There was a light frost this morning. These chooks are mainly just for the house, my wife is from the Phillipines & grew up with chickens around her & misses them a bit. I'm not sure about breeding any as roosters aren't allowed in town & I'm not sure how to determine which chickens are the best layers.

Hens and Hobbits · **Posted:** Thu Sep 22, 2011 12:47 pm

Hi, Shaun,

Never too old to learn [smilie=rlp_smilie_318.gif]

and never call yourself technologically retarded. Don't be techno phobic and rely or depend on one's children for help, though I must say that ours are only quite happy and obliging to teach their parents modern technology! DO NOT BE AFRAID!!!

Hope these links will assist you:

http://australianpoultry.net/addphoto.jpg
http://www.resize2mail.com/

OakA · **Posted:** Thu Sep 22, 2011 1:56 pm

There is a post here under Chickens "do hens ever just not lay" , there I have given the pointers to look for and identify who is laying and of the others which is closer.
Have a read it may answer some questions.

shaun · **Joined:** Mon Jul 18, 2011 2:45 pm **Posts:** 21

Be patient people, this is my first attempt at posting photos.

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