Eglu Go With 2m Run For Sale

[Pevensey Sue]

Ok, several weeks in to what is going to be a lifetime of chicken keeping!!

 

Now my lovely Hybrid is popping out an egg a day and is a pleasure. Cannot step foot outside without her wanting a cuddle. Literally sits on my feet until I pick her up...

 

Two of the other three (stuck up Sussex!) are friendly but NONE of these three (at 24 weeks) are laying. Now what is my statistical risk of having non layers? I remember when I did my course with Jayne she had a couple that never laid. Am I being imaptient? Do you think time is all we need?

 

Chicken novice but loving the journey....

[Emma L]

Hiya, we're new to this too, but we found that by cutting out some of the treats and making sure they were getting plenty of pellets in the run before they were allowed out to play this seemed to encourage them. It might have just been a coincidence and they just came into lay at the same time, but I figured maybe they needed some of the proper nutritionally balanced stuff and a bit less pasta (which they love!)

[Egluntyne]

Emma is right...cut out the treats and they may well get on with it.

[Pevensey Sue]

ok, thanks.

 

Have already let them out this morning but will leave them in run tomorrow and no raisins!

 

Interested Emma to see Gertie laid a good couple of weeks before your other two...... You would think they encouraged each other wouldn't you and like women who live together, alll end up doing things at the same time!!

 

Ernestina is huge (Black Sussex) and looks like she should be laying as so much bigger than the other three but only Mrs Chicken does the business.

Wormwood scrubs conditions for next few days then...........

[hillfamily]

Hi Sue

 

Are your Sussex Girls, pure breed Sussex or hybrid Sussex Pure breeds start laying at a much later age - around 30 -35 weeks old.

 

When I had my first 2 hybrids there was at least a 4-5 week delay between the first one laying and the second starting.

 

Hang in there - I'm sure they will get the hang of it soon and then you'll have more eggs than you can bake cakes

[Tina C]

My Light Sussex hybrid start laying about 4 or 5 weeks later than my Bluebelle - but her comb was also smaller when she arrived so she may have been a bit younger.

[HENthusiastic]

Ive got three hybrids, one of which has laid one egg! That was it! She is a lovely little character, but seems to think egg laying is much too much like hard work. There are too many interesting things to do, than to be sat on a nest laying eggs. I have more or less given up on her being an egg layer. I just remind myself that I'm really pleased she ended up with me. Who knows what might have happened to her if she had ended up living with people who only wanted her for eggs. Still waiting though, she could be a once a month kind of girl! Hope yours get doing the business soon.

[BeckyBoo]

Also take into account the weather, although the days are longer it's still pretty chilly so they'll only just be thinking spring is sprung (just as "summer" is supposed to be here ) If they're new to laying that will also have a bearing, but as has already been said I'm afraid you may have a bit of a wait yet for your Sussex's!

 

Mrs B

[AnnieP]

Looking at the colour of their combs is usually a good check: A laying hen will have a much deeper red comb than one who isn't ready to lay yet.

Another test is when you go up to them and put your hand as if you were going to cover their back, if they "squat", then they are coming into lay (they will think you are a cockeral... )

 

So glad you are enjoying your girls!

[meezers]

Hiya, I also have a light sussex who has the biggest ,reddest comb of all my girls - but isn't even crouching yet ! as someone said - I'm expecting her to take a bit longer than the hybrids. I also have a Bluebelle who has only just started crouching, and a warren who laid 8 eggs straight off, had a week off, laid one more, then nothing since ( almost 3 weeks now ! )I got them all together and they were all much the same age, they'll get around to laying ( or not ) in their own sweet time.

[chicklit]

Hi Henthusiastic, I know exactly how you feel because I also have a gorgeouse friendly Gingernut Ranger who seems to think that laying eggs is too boring for her. Maisie, who is about a year old, has laid eggs, very occasionally. She lays for a couple of days and then takes several weeks off.

 

I am glad to say that she seems to be fit and well. She eats well, is very lively and loves coming into the kitchen to visit us and drink out of the dog's bowl. She is always hanging around outside the kitchen door and knocking with her beak, when they are out free ranging. She loves being picked up and cuddled.

 

My chooks only get the occasional treats these days as I have cut them down drastically in an effort to get her to lay regularly. Also I have wormed them regularly so I don't think that is the problem. (on day 6 of a Flubenvet course at the moment)

 

We have accepted now that this is how things will be and we love her for her lovely personality. If she lays that's fine, if she odesn't that's also fine, as long as she is fit and well that's all that matters.

 

Like you, we are glad that she came to live with us and not someone who only wanted hens for the eggs.

[Pevensey Sue]

Thanks everyone... would you beleive we had two eggs this morning..... not sure who, but someone got wind I was discussing them behind their backs!!

 

They are such characters, I joke about them not realising they aren't here just to be pets but actually it is cool if they are!!!

 

Sue x

[HENthusiastic]

Hi Chiclit,

She sounds exactly like my girl, Buttercup. Theres something about her that just makes you want to say "oh dont you worry yourself about eggs sweetheart. You just tootle about the place and enjoy yourself!" SHe is such a little softie. It makes me wonder, how many hens there are who dont lay eggs. Or not many anyway. Buttercup, seems perfectly happy and well too. She looks very healthy so I'm just letting her enjoy life and I'm enjoying her. She may not be great at egg laying, but of all my girls shes the best starling chaser! We all have our diferent talents eh.

Pevensy Sue; they will just be lulling you into a false sence of security..... they may be like my Buttercup, expect your next egg in a couple of months!

[BarbaraJ]

Oh don't say that lol i only have 3 chickens and presumed i would get at least 2 eggs a day !maybe i should have bought more chickens i dont just want them for eggs but the idea was i didnt need t buy eggs anymore hopefully!

[HENthusiastic]

BarbaraJ; you will defo be needing more hens no question about it..... you may as well go and pick them this weekend! I notice you've got an amber star... interestingly, I think my hen who doesn't lay is an amber star cross! (The brown and white one in the front of my avatar picture).