KateCooke Posted August 21, 2010 Share Posted August 21, 2010 Bought 4 pure breed bantams 2 weeks ago and becoming impatient reading about everyone's eggs, when will my first egg come. Age of bantams is a bit questionable, when i bought the wyndotte they said she was at point of lay but she is the smallest and still tweets! The other 3 were bought from domestic fowl trust in cotswolds and they appears unsure of ages, about 18 weeks ish. Based on this information can you advice me: a. when do you think they might lay? b. will they always lay in Eglu first? c. is there any behaviour that i can look out for to show that laying will be soon. Yours Desperate for eggs! Kate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuckmum6 Posted August 21, 2010 Share Posted August 21, 2010 It is very hard I know, I waited ages for my girls to come into lay! My wyandottes were May 09 hatch and 1 startered to lay in November the other before Christmas. My Pekins (same hatch) started to lay in February and then both went broody in May and have pretty much stayed that way ! I wouldn't expect eggs much before mid to late Autumn - but you never know! Hybrids will come into lay sooner, pure breeds do take longer and will usually lay less frequently but for longer. My girls did all lay in the eglu - just make sure they don't sleep in there. They tend to spend quite a lot of time visiting the nest box to check it out before they lay - they know it is for something. They will squat down with their wings out when you come near them - they think you are the big cockerel! Which makes catching them so much easier. Do let us know when the first egg arrives Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KateCooke Posted August 23, 2010 Author Share Posted August 23, 2010 Thank you, i am still hopeful everyday. Yesterday we did spot one of the girls sitting down low to teh ground with her wings out, maybe this is a good sign. I have never seen them go into the eglu apart from bed time. Well fingers crossed for eggs soon, my OH is getting even more inpatient. Kate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Perfectspace Posted August 23, 2010 Share Posted August 23, 2010 My girls did all lay in the eglu - just make sure they don't sleep in there. Hmmm... mine have been sleeping in the nest from day one - all cuddled up! They don't seem to be bothered about the roosting bars. Is this going to be a potential problem then....? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the-real-tinkerbell Posted August 23, 2010 Share Posted August 23, 2010 the problem with them sleeping in the nest is that they may poop in it and you dont want poop all over your eggs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Perfectspace Posted August 23, 2010 Share Posted August 23, 2010 Ahhh... I see.... Well, looks like we're going to be cleaning poop off our eggs then. (I'm guessing end of October for our first egg.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Perfectspace Posted August 23, 2010 Share Posted August 23, 2010 Kate, if you don't mind me asking, where did you get your Bantams from? We're tempted by another couple (especially if Chicken Bhuna turns out to be a Cockerel, which is still a possibility) of different pure breeds, but can't seem to find many places that sell them nearby in Bucks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuckmum6 Posted August 26, 2010 Share Posted August 26, 2010 My girls did all lay in the eglu - just make sure they don't sleep in there. Hmmm... mine have been sleeping in the nest from day one - all cuddled up! They don't seem to be bothered about the roosting bars. Is this going to be a potential problem then....? My growers are trying to sleep in the nest area or worse perching in the hole and pooing straight into it!!! I put a couple of plastic trays in the hole to block it and it keeps them out - mucky little chooks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purplemaniacs Posted August 28, 2010 Share Posted August 28, 2010 My old girls sleep in the nest, they always have done. I did block it off at one time but if I forgot they were in there, so in the end I decided that the nest was where they were happiest so I leave them to it now. I just poo pick from the nest in the morning. Happy girls and clean eggs. Chrissie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KateCooke Posted September 2, 2010 Author Share Posted September 2, 2010 Kate, if you don't mind me asking, where did you get your Bantams from? We're tempted by another couple (especially if Chicken Bhuna turns out to be a Cockerel, which is still a possibility) of different pure breeds, but can't seem to find many places that sell them nearby in Bucks. I live north of Coventry so may not be suitable for you, but i bought 3 of my bantams in the Cotswolds, Domestic Fowl Trust and another one north of Nuneaton, Hoar Park. Hope this helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...