4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[sarahpink]

Really need some help! My trio of Wyandottes are now 36 weeks old and we still have no signs of eggs! I was told by the breeder I bought them from at 16 weeks, that they would start laying around 22 weeks so I'm startiing to get a little worried about my girls.

 

These are my first girls as the first trio of silkies I had at 2 weeks old started crowing at 6 months! we wondered why we weren't getting any eggs! No chance of these being boys though as they were sexed when we bought them.

 

They are kept in an and let out to free range late morning and put back in every night although they don't go in by themselves, I have to fetch them off the wheely bin which is where they go to roost every night and have done since we first had them!

I don't normally close the door on the eglu so they can get into the run first thing in the morning, not sure if this is the right thing to do?

I read somewhere about putting a fake egg in the nesting box, so borrowed one from my toddlers play kitchen and that doesn't seem to have made a difference.

The girls are eating layers pellets and also have corn everyday aswell as various bits of left over veg. We were told by our local feed suppliers not to give them grit until they start laying.

 

Does anyone have any suggestions/ideas?

[BocBoc]

I'm going to watch this thread with interest as two of ours still aren't laying. Lets see what the eggsperts have to say............

 

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I'm not really an expert but here's my experience for what it's worth

 

Two of my original girls started laying at 30 weeks. The other one laid 10 tiny eggs at 21/22 weeks then stopped till she was 39 weeks .

 

It sounds like you're doing everything right so I'm sure they'll start when they're ready. I'm not sure about the grit advice though . I think I'm right in saying they need grit for grinding the food in their crops and it's oystershell or similar that helps egg production. If your girls freerange a lot they'll be getting all the grit they need though so no need to worry!

[Jools]

The little free-loading madams!!

 

I'd suggest cutting out their corn and other treats and just letting them have access to their layers pellets for a while to see if that kick starts them. Letting them free-range can only benefit them, so I wouldn't suggest stopping that. However, they may not start until spring now the shorter days have really kicked in. They should start before, but they might not!

 

The breeder is right about not feeding oystershell grit until they come into lay. I can't remember the detail of the reasoning behind it, but it's something to do with excess calcium causing other problems. If they're eating layers, they'll be getting all they need until the lazy little critters come up with the goodies.

[chelsea]

Some pure breeds do take longer to lay. Our Cochins were 8/9 months old before they gave us an

 

I wouldn't be too concerned, as long as they appear healthy and bright then an egg will come one day.

[rufusrooster]

Some pure breeds do take longer to lay. Our Cochins were 8/9 months old before they gave us an

 

I wouldn't be too concerned, as long as they appear healthy and bright then an egg will come one day.

 

 

Gene is supposed to be a Cochin hybrid ? nearly 11 months old and still no eggs

[mocha]

I have 10 Black Rocks which are all 30-32 weeks old and none of those lay yet either.

 

It's surprised me because my 9 older Black Rocks started laying when they were 23 weeks. I got them all from the same place at the same time of year (different years) So I guess they will just start when they are ready

[emz]

Interesting topic.

 

I have 2 Buff sussex 28 weeks approx - no eggs.

 

2 light sussex 28 weeks approx - 1 has laid a few eggs (5 or so) in the last 2 weeks.

 

2 Pekin bantams - 1 used to lay, but then went broody and hasn't started again. The other has never laid lol. They were POL early August!!!

 

Didn't know about the grit thing tho - one is laying so i'll have to make grit available to all girls now tho???

 

It obviously won't do any harm - will it???

[Jools]

I'm pretty sure there was a post on P P about it a year or two ago, but the forum is down again so I can't check it.

 

I'll stick my neck out and say that as you have pure breeds who will not lay as prolifically as hybrids, their need for extra calcium will be less. If they're eating mainly layers pellets, they should get all the calcium they need, but if you're feeding them a lot of other stuff, maybe not.

 

However, your four Sussex ladies are of laying age so starting to put out oyster shell grit is unlikely to harm them as they're not likely to start gorging on it. It might be different if you were adding a supplement to their water because then they'd have no option but to take it.

 

Soooooooooooooooo, does that help or confuse even more!!!!

[johncunningham01]

In quite a similar position myself.

 

Dorthy a white hen started laying the day after she arrived. Henrietta, a Rhode Island Red about a fortnight after that. All went well for about four weeks with a third hen (Flo) giving me three blue eggs but with the other two stoppingand then starting again two weeks after that. My fourth, Matilda (Marran) has yet to lay anything. All were about 16-18 weeks when I got them.

 

Its all very confusing. They are all let out into the garden during the day as long as someone is home and then back into their run with either corn, apples, tomato or pears as a treat (not all at the same time).

 

Have notice recently that Flo has lost a few feathers at the back of her neck. No mites found and skin clean and intact with no breaks so I guess it was just a bit of a girly squabble. Unless of course anyone knows different.

 

John

[Sara@Brentford]

Ah......

 

My two contributions:

 

If they are free ranging... could they be laying elsewhere in the garden?

 

Secondly, we got a couple of new girls in July (Orp & Wyan) and while they weren't POL still haven't started yet.... maybe it's a pure breed thing?

[Valkyrie]

Our Orpies were well past that when they started last year. First week in October they started - except for the Buff which started in the first week of January when the other two were having a fortnight off.

We have had a bit of a drought here and I actually had to buy in some eggs! Tut tut. But this weekend we have had 2. The youngsters are only just showing signs - the sussex has started to crouch - the maran is still doing impersonations of Road Runner and the splash is still moulting, so expect her to start again in a couple of weeks.

Hope yours start soon.

[Space Chick]

Wyandottes are slow to mature breeds, as pure breeds they also don't lay over winter.

 

I would be surprised if you had an egg from them before Spring... sorry I know thats not what you want to hear

 

My Wyandotte did lay her first egg at 31 weeks old, and I was astounded it was so soon, but then she decided to stop for a while

[Sara@Brentford]

So I need to be patient with my new girls....

 

Shame I didn't count them all in a few weeks ago as I lost a Rhode who laid every day...

 

My oldest girl has only laid one egg in the last four months and my Spanish Penedesenca is just not right.... not sure what's wrong? I've wormed them, dusted them... she's eating, drinking & pooing, she can get up & down the cube ladder, but she's just not right...ummmm.

 

So I'm only getting 1-2 eggs a day and I need to make my Christmas Cake!!!!!

[Twiglet]

I had 2 Barred Plymouth Rocks on 30th June at about 22 weeks so that makes them 41 weeks and only 1 is laying and has been for about 2 months. No signs of the other starting at all.

Very frustrating as I've already got 2 freeloaders - one who I think has trouble with her girly bits as she used to be a great layer then started to lay only "liquid" eggs for a while, now given up completely. Miss who used to lay the biggest brownest eggs but gets uptight and put off laying at any excuse and stopped the day we got the newbies (as above) and hasn't started since and is also moulting heavily at present.

 

And I thought I'd get 2 newbies to INCREASE the supply of eggies - HOW WRONG CAN YOU GET!