sarahs Posted December 12, 2008 Share Posted December 12, 2008 Hello all, I hope you can offer some advice. I took delivery of an Eglu and 2 gingernut rangers on Sept 18th. Both chooks are happy and healthy, but only one has come in to lay. Roxy started laying 4 weeks after arriving, and has laid consistently every morning since her first egg. Ronnie has yet to start laying, nearly 3 months after arriving chez Sarah. Ronnie is definitely second in the pecking order, I was wondering if that would play a part in her lack of laying. They don't fight, in fact spend all day together in the garden. Ronnie is red faced, crouches and is interested in the fake egg in the nest box. I've hunted the garden to see if she is surrupticiously hiding a clutch of eggs somewhere but I can't find any evidence! I'm beginning to think that I've got a chicken that will not lay eggs at all - any thoughts? Best wishes Sarah Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted December 12, 2008 Share Posted December 12, 2008 The weather isn't good for a start. I got my chickens at the beginning of October 2007 and had to wait a very long time for my hybrids to start laying. One didn't start until the January so don't worry. Think of the other eggs as a Winter bonus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buffie Posted December 12, 2008 Share Posted December 12, 2008 Yes sometimes they don't come into lay until spring if you get them later in the year, I am waiting for first eggs from 2 new girls who are well past POL and I know it will be most likely spring now. It's nature I'm afraid. Buffie x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MadMitch Posted December 13, 2008 Share Posted December 13, 2008 My Welsummer is now 39 weeks and still hasn't laid. Not sure she ever will. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted December 13, 2008 Share Posted December 13, 2008 I agree about the daylight/time of year thingy. Is she eating too many treats? Maybe if you confine her to pellets only it might help. I realise that she will be on a similar diet to the other girl. Are you absolutely sure that Roxy is doing all the egg laying? Is Ronnie showing no signs of maturity? Are her comb and wattles red and well developed and does she crouch when you approach? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sarahs Posted December 16, 2008 Author Share Posted December 16, 2008 Thanks all for your replies. I'm certain that it is Roxy laying in the nestbox, I have on a few occasions had the pleasure of watching her laying right in front of me when I open up the eglu in the morning, bless her! As for 'the other one' aka Ronnie - she now has a large comb and wattles, is actually larger than Roxy. She is readily crouching when I come near, so I think she is sufficiently mature to lay. She matured much later than Roxy, so I'm wondering if she came from a different batch of chicks when acquired by the folk at Omlet. I'm only giving them a small handful of mixed grain as a treat in the afternoon so I don't think it is a feeding problem. They have plenty of grass etc during the day as they are free ranging in the garden. I guess I'll just have to be patient and wait for the days to start drawing out again! Best wishes Sarah Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seagazer Posted December 16, 2008 Share Posted December 16, 2008 One of mine took four months from when I got her - they do get there in the end Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cordelia Posted December 18, 2008 Share Posted December 18, 2008 I'm still waiting for mine to lay too....so never give up hope mine are 30 weeks and 29 weeks one day...I know they will Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sarahs Posted December 22, 2008 Author Share Posted December 22, 2008 Hello all, I thought you would like to know that today I found Ronnie acting rather strangely in a part of the garden that is very difficult for me to get to. I came out of the back door to hear some soft squeaking coming from a very narrow patch of ground that is close to my boundary fence, beyond a pond. Upon closer inspection, there was Ronnie, wedged between the pond and the fence, covered by ivy and sitting on 6 eggs! The mystery is solved at last, thankfully. I had seen her wondering around that part of the garden a few days ago and thought nothing of it apart from "silly chook, she'll fall in to the pond if she's not careful"! Little did I know that she had an ulterior motive and had been laying a clutch of eggs! So, I'm now swamped with eggs in time for Christmas - hurrah! I shall have to confine her to the eglu & run for a few days to try and convert her egg laying habit to the nest box! Many thanks to all who read my post and gave support. Best wishes Sarah Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seagazer Posted December 22, 2008 Share Posted December 22, 2008 Hooray!! I must admit I don't let mine out until I know they've all laid. Sometimes there's only two eggs in the nesting box so I've probably got a few eggs scatttered around the garden. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted December 22, 2008 Share Posted December 22, 2008 Well I never! The little madam. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abwsco Posted December 22, 2008 Share Posted December 22, 2008 LOL's Mo, our cream legbar lays all over the place, including the nest box, so we're nearly always playing hunt the egg. Mind you she's stopped laying for the winter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mostin Posted December 22, 2008 Share Posted December 22, 2008 The little madam , at least you caught her in the act. lots of eggies for christmas now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
