tortilla Posted February 19, 2009 Share Posted February 19, 2009 We have had our gingernut rangers for 4 weeks and 2 days now. We were told they were 17 weeks when they arrived. But still no eggs, not one!!! I'm so impatient I don't think I can wait much longer - I'm worse than the kids. Please can anyone tell me if this is normal, how much longer we may have to wait and if anyone else got their gnr's from omlet about the same time and how they are doing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted February 19, 2009 Share Posted February 19, 2009 Sorry, but there's no such thing as normal . Some lay straight away, some take months to get going . I had to wait about 8 weeks for two of mine to lay. The other laid 10 tiny eggs then took 3 months off . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickvic Posted February 20, 2009 Share Posted February 20, 2009 Are your girls red in the face? Have their combs and wattles grown and gone red? Do they crouch when you approach? If they do, then eggs are on the way! Like ANH said, there's no such thing as normal, they do it in their own time. But they are worth waiting for Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted February 20, 2009 Share Posted February 20, 2009 It's the time of year and the bad weather sets them back when it comes to laying. I got my first girls in Oct '07 and some of them didn't lay until well into 2008. Keep snuggling them and enjoying them. The eggs will come one day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cordelia Posted February 22, 2009 Share Posted February 22, 2009 I waited months.....just keep looking, they will lay soon good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prudance Posted February 23, 2009 Share Posted February 23, 2009 If my maths is right, you got yours just one day before ours! We're still waiting for an egg too. Race you!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the eggman cometh Posted February 24, 2009 Share Posted February 24, 2009 I got 5 girls on October last year, three of which are now laying, and three more girls in Janyary this year, one of which is laying. so 4 of the 8 are doing the biz. just try to be pragmatic about it. and leave a box of paxo out where the girls can see it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tortilla Posted February 26, 2009 Author Share Posted February 26, 2009 If my maths is right, you got yours just one day before ours! We're still waiting for an egg too. Race you!! Ok, you're on! May the best chicken win lol. Thanks for all the replies, I am trying to be patient, really I am. If even one would lay I think I could forgive the rest They do seem to have grown in size lately and one in particular has a redder and bigger comb than the others and she does squat so I'm hopeful! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FionaH Posted February 28, 2009 Share Posted February 28, 2009 Just wondering if either of you have an egg yet? I got my chickens 4 weeks ago today, supposedly aged 18 weeks. One certainly looks older than the other, with a redder and larger comb. Not an egg in sight yet, and the kids and I are getting a bit desperate. Still, they are getting friendlier and they look great walking around the yard. They also did spend their first week in the snow, which I assume could put them back a bit - I think they thought they'd moved to Siberia! Fingers crossed we all get an egg for breakfast tomorrow, Fi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tortilla Posted February 28, 2009 Author Share Posted February 28, 2009 Hi Fiona No eggs yet BUT they have all grown quite alot lately and one has a very red large comb and wattles. Also 3 of them are now squatting when you approach so I'm ever hopeful. I went to buy supplies for them yesterday and couldn't help but start interrogating the man at the farm. He ended up telling me that I would get an egg the following day, but hubbie said he was just trying to get rid of me! Lol. (He was wrong of course). They are great little characters, aren't they? I just love them to bits but really can't wait for the eggs and my impatience has now rubbed off onto the kids. We let them free range so I live in fear that they are laying a secret stash somewhere that I don't know about, so I go on an egg hunt several times a day. You may want to join in the race. Let us know when you get some. I hope it's not too long for all of us! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FionaH Posted March 1, 2009 Share Posted March 1, 2009 I'd love the join the race - thanks! But I think you'll beat me to it as your girls are squatting. I thought one of mine was squatting a week ago but it turned out I just hadn't seen dust-bathing postures (a bit like chicken yoga) before. I do love the way they run after me for corn though, and they have developed a taste for grapes. Happy hunting Fi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tortilla Posted March 1, 2009 Author Share Posted March 1, 2009 YEEE HAAAAA!! WE HAVE OUR FIRST EGG!!!!!!! My son went out to let them out this morning at 7 and he checked and there was a beautiful perfectly formed egg in the box!!! It weighed a respectable 44g. I must say I'm surprised coz there wasn't one in there when they went to bed and I never thought they would lay overnight? Anyway, not sure who did it but suspect henrietta was the one. Hoping the others will soon follow suit. So, Fiona & Prudence hopefully any time now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickvic Posted March 1, 2009 Share Posted March 1, 2009 Congratulations! Did you do the egg dance? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weathercoc Posted March 1, 2009 Share Posted March 1, 2009 I read your post yesterday, and was keen to race you to that first egg, and today you have one. Our girls arrived on 21st January, and we're still waiting. I was just looking at the pics I took a few weeks ago, and they are all seem bigger now and also have developed much bigger combs. Ernestina, who was always least keen on being picked up, has now started 'squatting' if i touch her, so hopefully it won't be much longer. We're just enjoying our great new pets, I could spend hours I don't have just watching them! Gary & Moira Are you sure your OH hasn't "planted" an egg, just to keep you quiet??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sunshinesupernova Posted March 1, 2009 Share Posted March 1, 2009 if there was a red lion on it - it might be a dead give away... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tortilla Posted March 1, 2009 Author Share Posted March 1, 2009 I read your post yesterday, and was keen to race you to that first egg, and today you have one.Our girls arrived on 21st January, and we're still waiting. I was just looking at the pics I took a few weeks ago, and they are all seem bigger now and also have developed much bigger combs. Ernestina, who was always least keen on being picked up, has now started 'squatting' if i touch her, so hopefully it won't be much longer. We're just enjoying our great new pets, I could spend hours I don't have just watching them! Gary & Moira Are you sure your OH hasn't "planted" an egg, just to keep you quiet??? Ha ha, I must admit I was suspicious when the two kids and the dog burst through our bedroom door at 7 a.m. shouting "we've got an egg". In fact I think my reply was something like "are you having me on?" BUT it is smaller than any we had in the fridge and was warm to hold so I think I'm going to have to go with them on this!! We got ours on the 20th Jan so perhaps you'll have an egg tomorrow! Keep us posted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FionaH Posted March 1, 2009 Share Posted March 1, 2009 Congrats on your first egg, Tortilla - what did you do with it?? Was it the best egg you have ever tasted?? Do you have any idea which chook it came from? Will be interesting to see if you get another tomorrow... I think there are 3 of us now in the race. We've had our 2 girls for 4 weeks and a day now (but who's counting), so we got them on Jan 31. Maybe when I clean out their run tomorrow they'll reward me. Our plan is scrambled egg with the first one to make it easy for us all to get some. Good luck everyone, Fi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tortilla Posted March 3, 2009 Author Share Posted March 3, 2009 Hi Fi The first egg was a bit on the small side for us all to share, but yesterday she laid a lovely 65g one (at a more respectable time of day 10.45a.m. so I knew who it was too, which is nice!). So I had this great idea that we'd get another today and the two biggies and the little would make a meal fit for a king this evening (well nearly) so we could sample the exquisite flavour. But so far today no egg!!! So the kids'll have to starve I must admit that although I'm keen to taste them I'm also a bit reluctant to use them - they seem so precious at the moment - i know it's all a bit sad but I know you'll all understand. And thanks to everyone with their congratulations - yes I did the egg dance and also spent a silly amount of time looking at, feeling, stroking, photographing and weighing and comparing the egg. I fear I am turning into a bit of a weirdo! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prudance Posted March 3, 2009 Share Posted March 3, 2009 Congratulations Tortilla! No sign of eggs here yet I thought Georgina was starting to squat but I think she's actually just been limbering up because in the last two days she's discovered she can escape from the garden! I've no idea how she's doing it though. Can't find a hole or gap in the fence and I'm sure she shouldn't be able to jump over a 5 foot section of hedge with a clipped wing! She did go and hide in the cube for an hour this morning and I got all excited thinking there was an egg coming, but I think that she was just calming down somewhere safe after her latest escape and first encounter with a cat! Second place is still up for grabs then? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prudance Posted March 3, 2009 Share Posted March 3, 2009 I found an egg this afternoon while planting some veg!!!! Could be a garden bird laying a whopper at 48g, but I suspect it's my escapee chicken, Georgina! I think it was laid this morning. Even if it was yesterday - should still be alright to eat. It's not exactly warm out yet. Soooo excited!! Not surprised she did it in the garden though. Had let things slip in the nest box because I was fed up of just finding poo on the straw. One of the chickens has a habit of sleeping with her bum sticking through the nestbox hole. I've just put in a nice, and for the first time deep, layer of straw in for them. Hope they notice because I don't want to play hunt the egg in the garden twice a day! Hope your chickens lay soon too Fi. Right I'm off to the kitchen to finish making dinner and to do my own first egg dance with the kids Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FionaH Posted March 3, 2009 Share Posted March 3, 2009 I'm so pleased for you both - a first and a second egg! No such luck here, but I have noticed that the girls are both redder in the face, so maybe it won't be long. Another not-so-positive thing I noticed was a neighbour's big ginger cat standing on top of the eglu run, looking down to the chooks. Prudance, what happened with Georgina's cat encounter. This is quite a big cat, and she looks keen for a chicken dinner. I'm a bit scared to let them out of the run when I'm not actually in the backyard now. Another interesting factoid - they seem to like cherry tomatoes. Do yours have any favourites? Cheers Fiona Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prudance Posted March 4, 2009 Share Posted March 4, 2009 Fi, I don't know what happened between Georgina and the cat because I couldn't see. My neighbour just grabbed the cat and took him straight in. I think she must have been at least a little scared though because she just about flew into my arms when she saw me come to get her! Bless. I think that they'd be able to hold their own against the cat though. They've got really sharp claws and that beak can deliver quite a peck. I think if the cat tried to get your chooks, it would be unlikely to try twice unless it's a brute. Good luck with the egg laying. We got a second little egg today in the nest box this time and a second chicken has started crouching so I don't know who layed!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FionaH Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 No eggs (apart from Tesco ones) yet, but I'm sure my love and attention will be rewarded soon. Maybe the man I bought them from said 8 weeks rather than 18 weeks... My mum has suggested a water pistol to deter pesky cats. The girls have started actually coming just inside the back door if I'm not out in the yard. Never thought of chickens as an indoor pet but obviously they have other ideas! Happy scrambling, Fi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tortilla Posted March 6, 2009 Author Share Posted March 6, 2009 Prudance that's fantastic news. Isn't it great. We've had an egg every day except one since last sunday, but they come at all different times - I've figured she's laying about every 27 hours! The other three are all squatting and their combs are getting redder so I'm hoping they'll soon follow henriettas lead and start laying too! All four of ours sleep in the egg box bit - have done every night since we got them. I figured it was because it was so cold (it was around that snowy time) but now it's a bit warmer they're still in there. It means we have really poohey (sp?) straw every day but never have to clean the pooh trays coz they never roost! Is that normal? Fi, I'm sure it's got to be any day now. BTW I've found a cat in the garden a couple of times, just watching while the chooks were out but i figured they can hold their own against a cat, and I usually just send the dog out (although he's too dopey to notice the cat usually)! Wow that's a bit of a long post, sorry but it's so good to chat to people who understand, I think chickens are taking over my life!! ooh and I must mention, our second egg was 64g and a double yoker!! DH was well impressed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FionaH Posted March 9, 2009 Share Posted March 9, 2009 Yeehah - first egg yesterday and second today, and Name (yes, that's the name my youngest son chose) only started really squatting the day before. The first was 49 grams, and was beaten and fried into an 'egg pancake' - easy to share that way. Tonight we'll all have a quarter of a boiled egg. Yum. Hope everyone else's chickens are doing well. Mone have developed a sweet but slightly annoying habit of coming into the utility area inside the back door if I'm inside. Only a matter of time until we have a poo in the house ... Fi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
