The Nikiel Family Posted January 3, 2008 Share Posted January 3, 2008 Hi, The Nikiel family are new to chicken keeping. Betty and Barbara arrived 5 weeks ago (at around 20 weeks old) and we hoped for eggs before xmas...no such luck! Betty has been squatting for 3 weeks now and the first signs of concern are starting to kick in! Both chickens appear fit and healthy. Any advice? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted January 3, 2008 Share Posted January 3, 2008 Hello and welcome to the forum. You'll just have to be patient I'm afraid. At this time of year, the long nights and short days have an effect on the laying and your girls will take a bit longer to get started. Won't be long now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jomaxsmith Posted January 3, 2008 Share Posted January 3, 2008 Hello there, Two of my hens have started laying recently and they were around the same age as your hens are now so it's certainly not unusual for them to be that age, or even older. It's frustrating having to wait, isn't it! Jo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeckyBoo Posted January 3, 2008 Share Posted January 3, 2008 Hello and welcome to all things chickeny! It is a bad time of year I'm afraid, it also depends on what type of hens you have. Pure breeds don't always lay at all in the winter, some also mature a lot later than hybrids. Plus it's cold and it's dark and they don't like it much and there could be any number of reasons why they're not laying. We've got 11 hens and got the grand total of two eggs the other day! If they're doing all the other chicken type things then I wouldn't worry, you'll just have to play the waiting game (which is very VERY hard! ) But it will be even MORE exciting when you go down one morning and there it is! Mrs Bertie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 3, 2008 Share Posted January 3, 2008 We have 7 hens and only 2 are laying and not everyday They don't seem to like the cold weather and dark nights Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted January 3, 2008 Share Posted January 3, 2008 My hybrids only started laying in December at around 26-28 weeks old. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Nikiel Family Posted January 4, 2008 Author Share Posted January 4, 2008 Thanks everyone. My wife reminded me that patience isn't my strongest quality! Betty is a pepperpot and Barbara's a ginger hybrid. Barb started squatting today (she's been the more nervous one so far) and has been more chatty, so you never know...! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ktdot Posted January 4, 2008 Share Posted January 4, 2008 My Pepperpot (Bovans Nera) was about 26 weeks when she started laying. It'll be any day now, usually within a week of crouching. How exciting! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newlaidegg Posted January 6, 2008 Share Posted January 6, 2008 Frustrating though it is, it will definitely be worth the wait! Any day now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Nikiel Family Posted January 7, 2008 Author Share Posted January 7, 2008 Barbara has given us her first egg! Hopefully, Betty will follow her example soon. Unfortunately, my 3 year old daughter couldn't wait for me to return from work, so said egg was promptly boiled and eaten!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jomaxsmith Posted January 7, 2008 Share Posted January 7, 2008 my 3 year old daughter couldn't wait for me to return from work, so said egg was promptly boiled and eaten!!! Wow! That's a talented 3 year old! Mine can just about open the fridge to get at the Cheese Strings but I think boiling an egg is beyond him Glad you're into production now, anyway! Jo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted January 7, 2008 Share Posted January 7, 2008 Congratulations.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alih Posted January 9, 2008 Share Posted January 9, 2008 my chooks arrived on 12th November and I STILL have had no eggs.. I know it's winter and am not sure exactly what age they were when I got them from omlet but they have been here for nearly 9 weeks and my patience is wearing thin - has anyone else had to wait quite this long? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ktdot Posted January 9, 2008 Share Posted January 9, 2008 my chooks arrived on 12th November and I STILL have had no eggs.. I know it's winter and am not sure exactly what age they were when I got them from omlet but they have been here for nearly 9 weeks and my patience is wearing thin - has anyone else had to wait quite this long? Yes, 9 weeks for one and nearly 12 weeks for the other! It was terrible waiting, thought they'd never do it. Watch out for them squatting. Mine started laying within 3 days of beginning to squat. Also this weather doesn't help. I'm not getting 3 eggs a day at the moment, whereas up to christmas I was. Fingers crossed you'll have eggs soon! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted January 9, 2008 Share Posted January 9, 2008 I had to wait 12 weeks for 2 of mine and am still waiting for the other (18 weeks now - despite 10 eggs in September ). Depends on the age they are when you get them of course. Mine were 17 and 19 weeks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alih Posted January 10, 2008 Share Posted January 10, 2008 thanks guys, at least am not alone! Was worrying that I had weird chickens! Will keep looking! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Nikiel Family Posted January 10, 2008 Author Share Posted January 10, 2008 We've had 3 eggs in 4 days from Betty now. It's worth the wait! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted January 10, 2008 Share Posted January 10, 2008 Hurray!! What a relief. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted January 10, 2008 Share Posted January 10, 2008 Was worrying that I had weird chickens! We all have them . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lynn Posted January 10, 2008 Share Posted January 10, 2008 Our Arucana has started laying , but she is laying all over the place...on the roosting bars, in the middle of the run... It seems she is too interested in running around the place rather than going into the nesting box to lay. In fact, when I put more Hemcore in the box, she goes in and s"Ooops, word censored!"es it all out. Poor Mrs Wilson mustn't be very comfortable when it's her turn to lay Is there anything you can do to "train" them to lay in a certain place? Penelope, who is the same age as Mrs Wilson and Beatrix is still not laying, but appears to be doing a chicky dance - I'm hoping for results soon, although with three of them squawking their heads off at laying time is more than my nerves can stand !!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted January 10, 2008 Share Posted January 10, 2008 You could try putting a couple of golf balls in the nest box. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lynn Posted January 10, 2008 Share Posted January 10, 2008 I'll try that, but you think she would have cottoned on to the idea as Mrs Wilson has been laying for the last five weeks! I honestly think it's because she never sits still. She's like Road Runner from the cartoon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted January 10, 2008 Share Posted January 10, 2008 I'll try that, but you think she would have cottoned on to the idea as Mrs Wilson has been laying for the last five weeks! I honestly think it's because she never sits still. She's like Road Runner from the cartoon Bit of a slow learner is she . I like your Road Runner comment . Beep beep Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
