CALNICK Posted October 6, 2008 Share Posted October 6, 2008 we have had our girls since the 23rd june and to date we have not had an egg from any of our 6 girls. the breeder told us that they were 10 weeks old when we purchased them, however we do not think so as we lost two girls in the first few days of having them. our light sussex looks to be fully grown and has her wattles and crown and she is a large bird, the other girls are coming on but do not look as far on as the light sussex. They are all on layer pellets. Are we doing anything wrong? we have put a brown dummy egg in one of the nest boxes, which has been in for a few weeks now. Can any of you help or advise of anything we could do, we love the girls especially having had such a bad start to keeping chickens. Thanks calnick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frenchtoast Posted October 6, 2008 Share Posted October 6, 2008 Sorry, I'm only in my first year of chicken keeping so not an expert... perhaps they were very, very young when you got them? Have they got deep red combs, wattles and flushed cheeks? That's definitely the sign you're looking for. I've had a broody chick since end of August and it's quite depressing. She just wants to be in the eglu all day so sits outside the "locked" door. Saying that, she has started to get a bit more lively but her comb is tiny and pale once more. She did lay soon after we got her but didn't like being in the 3m run for a week when the neighbours kindly looked after them for me. The other two are well adjusted layers and a joy to have! Once they start laying you can relax and enjoy them more. (They're not likely to be cockerels are they??) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
helenmb Posted October 6, 2008 Share Posted October 6, 2008 By my calculations your girls must be about 24 weeks old. Hybrids usually start laying at about 20 to 23 weeks old so they are not that much older. Plus as you say they may have been a little younger than you were led to believe. Don't forget that the days are also shortening which also has an affect on hens laying so probably nothing to worry about just yet. I have 3 new girls who are just 20 weeks this weekend just gone and only 1 is laying and then only in the last few days have we had our first egg. My Sussex is way behind the hybrids development wise so not expecting anything for a while from her. Sounds like you are feeding them the right stuff. Although from reading the forum threads it seems that some pellets are better than others. So make sure you use a good brand with a long use by date - I always go for organic too. Fingers crossed for an egg soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
