Dominicker Hens – Egg Laying

Q: I have had two fully grown Dominicker hens since September and they have not laid one egg. Do they get too old to lay? Do they not lay in the winter?

A: One of the quirks of managing laying hens is their requirement to have at least 14 hours of light during the day to be productive. We haven’t had that much daylight since mid-July, with only 10 hours of sunlight daily in January. Driving past hen houses in Gainesville, you’ll notice they are lighted in the morning. Producers turn on indoor lights to be sure their hens get 14 – 16 hours of light each day. If you gradually increase day length for your Dominique hens they will start laying.