2009 Omlet cube and run for sale

[JulesDevon]

Can anybody help me - I have 12 beautiful hens (a mixture of Brahmas, Light Sussex and Cochins) They are now just over 25 weeks old and not a single egg!! I have read every book know to man and nothing has helped. They have been on layer pellets since 16 weeks. They get mixed corn in the afternoons and titbits such as tomatoes, past,a rice and potatoes at the weekends. They have a 1st class 5 star coop and nesting boxes and they all seem very happy. I can hand feed them all and even sit with some on my knee!! I love them all but I really would love to see some eggs - does anyone know what I should do? Thanks - any suggestions gratefully received!

[Snowy]

They are pure breeds, and large, slow to mature breeds so point of lay is likely to be a bit older than for hybrids. Also, we are now into the 'winter break' time of year, which will delay things further. To be honest I wouldn't expect eggs before February, but they may surprise you.

[Chicken shack]

My Bluebelle, Jasmin and Rhode Island Red are all laying now got 3 eggs for the first time to day but Daisy my Light Sussex has not laid a single egg since we got them in August. We call her Lazy Daisy Not expecting any from her now till next February at the ealiest

[JulesDevon]

They are pure breeds, and large, slow to mature breeds so point of lay is likely to be a bit older than for hybrids. Also, we are now into the 'winter break' time of year, which will delay things further. To be honest I wouldn't expect eggs before February, but they may surprise you.

 

 

Thanks for that. If it's normal behaviour then that's fine - I really thought I was doing something wrong!

[JulesDevon]

My Bluebelle, Jasmin and Rhode Island Red are all laying now got 3 eggs for the first time to day but Daisy my Light Sussex has not laid a single egg since we got them in August. We call her Lazy Daisy Not expecting any from her now till next February at the ealiest

 

Thanks for the info - I love them anyway so I'm sure they will give me some eggs when they are ready - thanks

[Egluntyne]

I'd cut right back on the extras and just fed them pellets, with maybe one small treat in the afternoon.

[chickanne]

Know the feeling!

My two Omlet girls arrived in July and Thelma laid after a week. She is an absolute trooper and has only not laid on two days (one being my birthday). Her eggs have steadily grown from 40 - 60g.

 

Lazy Louise, on the other hand, refused to mature. I could tell by her comb and the width of her pelvic bones. I had assumed that she would not lay until the new year. I e-mailed Barbara at Omlet several times in desperation.

 

Three weeks ago it became noticable that she was starting to crouch in the "brace yourself girlies" pose when I went to pick her up. I cleaned out their Eglu last Sunday after Thelma had laid and left it to dry. My brother and OH notice Louise standing under the hedge looking bemused next to a beautiful, warm egg!! When I went back to Eglu I could see muddy footprints leading into it and around the nest box. Poor girlie had gone in to do the biz and there was no roof!

 

Since then, she has laid every other day an egg as big as Thelma's.

Don't give up hope, just like humans they have a wide range for "normal behaviour".

[Mercedes55]

We have 4 pure breeds who are all around 22wks now and although I think at least one of them is close to being the right age to lay as she crouches when I stroke her, well we aren't expecting any eggs till next year.

 

Our 4 ex batts were laying 3/4 eggs a day when we got them in July. We are now down to just 2 most days and some days only 1, although they are a good size as most of the time they are between 60g-80g, I am surprised the one who is laying the big eggs can walk after laying one that size

[Steve the Gas]

Are you absolutely sure of their hatching dates?

[JulesDevon]

I wrote last week about my non laying hens - many thanks to all who replied as it has put my mind at rest! If we have to wait until next year for eggs then that's fine but I now need to know about the feed - should I still be giving them layer pellets or should I go back to grower pellets?

 

All advise gratefully received!

[meezers]

Some say to keep them on growers until you see an egg. I switch them to layers when they are point of lay - around 20weeks upwards , usually coincides with the bag of growers pellets being empty . I wouldn't bother switching them back to growers now, would be a waste of the layers pellets you have.

[Space Chick]

There are differing opinions on this, as you have larger breeds there is a school of thought that says keep them on growers until the first one starts laying. However, as they have been on layers since they were 16 weeks, I'd be inclined to keep them on them now they are 25 weeks.

 

Growers are higher in protein than layers, so it may be an idea to give them a bit of extra protein. Mealworms are ideal for this

 

Hope this helps

[Redwing]

As already said there are differing schools of thought on changing from gorwer to layers pellets

 

As all your breeds are big girls you could go one of three ways

 

Put them back on growers and accept that I wont see an egg till spring

 

Mix layers and growers and give them extra protein that way and hope I will see an egg before Christmas

 

Feed layers pellets and feed protein rich treats late each day such as cat food, tuna (thoroughly rinsed or in water) live mealworms or some growers pellets or chick crumb mixed with water to make a mush

 

Any of these will keep your chooks in good shape and build them up well

 

I personally would put them back on growers but then I keep my chooks for showing so body condition and feather condition is our priority and we dont care if we get any eggs or not