Summer is always a busy time of the year at Fasching Farm, but this year it has especially flown by without notice.  Numerous projects, in addition to everyday chores and activities, have kept us so busy there wasn’t time to look at the clock (or calendar).  Now we find ourselves in September!  Summer is about gone.  School is starting, and you can already feel the cooler nights and shorter days.  That can only mean one this – the beginning of harvest season (garden veggies, berries, mushrooms, etc. and new pullet eggs). 

At long last, the pullets have started laying multi-colored eggs.  There is something magical about that first new pullet egg of the season.  One never tires of it!

When do Chickens Begin Laying?  At around 18 weeks of age (depending on the breed) we switch out feed from the “chick starter” mix to a complete “layer feed” in anticipation of the first farm fresh eggs of the season from our new pullets.  From that moment our egg-ticipation is over and then nearly every day brings a little celebration when new eggs are collected. 

How Many Eggs Do Chickens Produce?  High producing, well fed free-range hens will lay up to 250 eggs per year (again, depending on the breed).  It takes 24-26 hours for a hen to create each egg.  Also, hens will take a natural bread from laying called “molting”, often as days get shorter in fall.

Which Breeds are the Best Layers?  The best laying breeds are different for various geographic locations and strongly depends upon the climate and feed management.  Our favorite egg laying breeds are the Red Star and the Black Star.  They are brown egg layers and production-wise are amazing!  They are great foragers and seem to be able to survive our cold SW Montana winters quite well even for their smaller size.  Another of out favorites in the Black Australorp.  As the name states, they originated in Australia and came to the US in the 1920’s.  They are a heavier breed and survive well in cold climates.  The are very good brown egg layers, quiet and very gentle.  Their handsome feathers are glossy black with greenish-purple sheen.  We also raise Americana’s and Whiting True Blue and Whiting True Greens for their green and blue colored “Easter eggs”.  And of course, we add too the palette with white egg laying Pearl Leghorn’s (my Grandmother raised Pearl Leghorns in the early 1940’s).

How Long will they Lay?   Hens peak their production within the first year of life.  The first eggs are small and get bigger over time.  As they get older egg size stays consistent and eventually egg count will begin dropping.  After two years the hen will lay 20% less eggs compared to its first year (under ideal conditions).  At Fasching Farm, we typically cull hens at about two years of age and annually raise replacement chicks. 

How Much do they Eat?  Mature hens will eat 0.25 lbs (about ½ cup) of feed per day plus “extras” like garden veggies, black oil sunflower seeds, etc.  One rule of thumb we use – we offer only about 2 tablespoons of extra treats on any day.  If you give more than 10% of their diet as treats egg production will decline.  

Yes, summer is coming to a close.  And even though the egg-ticipation is gone, we still watch in awe as our chickens, in exchange for a little feed and water, give us abundant, beautiful and delicious eggs.  Ah, the homestead life!