Sue Peters Posted November 29, 2009 Share Posted November 29, 2009 Hi We've got two 'old girls' now and they haven't laid any eggs for about 5 months. We got a point of lay hen about 2 months ago and she hasn's started laying. I'm worried that she's turned up and thought 'oh, we don't do that here!' So, my question is does she need to learn how to lay or is she following suit and not laying. I bought a plastic egg that I have put in the eglu a couple of weeks ago but nothing. My partner is starting to to tell them that they might end up on the Christmas dinner plate. Can I do anything to get her to lay and not end up as a replacement turkey?!! Thanks in advance Sue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted November 29, 2009 Share Posted November 29, 2009 You'll just have to be patient, I'm afraid . They just lay when they're ready, not when we think they should . Often, the first egg is laid in the run but they usually work it out after that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mostin Posted November 29, 2009 Share Posted November 29, 2009 I was just about to say the same thing, often the 1st egg is layed in the run, with the hen looking very startled "What on earth was that!" . With you putting the false egg in the nestbox, at least she will know where to aim for when she is ready . What breed is she?although she is point of lay, if she a pure bred, she may be crossing her legs until the spring, when the days get longer to start laying. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted November 29, 2009 Share Posted November 29, 2009 The most obvious thing first - is it def a girl? What breed is it? POL isnt an exact science, some chooks get started later than others and if you hen is a pure breed she might have reached her 'actual POL' after the point where pure breeds t stop laying for the winter - tag that on the end and you mght start getting eggs early next year! different sellers also have different oideas on when POL is, really it dffers by breed but any hen after about 22 weeks ish could be classed as POL, in reality some breeds POL is 30+ weeks Some other factors to consider would be to worm the hen if not already done, check for bullying problems is she is an odd bod in with established hens, it could be she isnt getting enough food, diet - switch to layers pellets if not already done hens dont need any prompting to lay (sometimes they need help wth WHERE to lay hence the fake egg requirement) Think about it; when an egg is heading torpedo like through your hens system all the crossing of legs in the world isnt going to stop that bad boy so no, she wont need any prompting! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sue Peters Posted November 29, 2009 Author Share Posted November 29, 2009 Thanks for the advice. She's a blubell which I think is a hybrid. I'm happy to let her lay when she's ready it's just annoying that we have three hens and have to buy eggs! I know they're pets but come on girls!! Thanks again Sue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted November 29, 2009 Share Posted November 29, 2009 Yes its a hybrid, hopefully it wont be long then, they dont tend to break for the winter Most of mine are pure breeds so I get about 3 eggs a day from the lot of them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted November 29, 2009 Share Posted November 29, 2009 you've also got to hope that she's not younger than you were told also with the weather we've got at the moment the amount of day light/sunlight is really short so that's not helping I should add I've got 3 POL purebreeds that I'm waiting to lay that ar 30+weeks and I've resigned to the fact that I'm not goig to get eggs this side of Christmas but more likely March Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
