baked Posted November 20, 2012 Share Posted November 20, 2012 Hi All, This is my first post. I have an Eglu Go with a 2 M run and a full clear cover. Miranda (a Speckaldy) and Harriet (a light Sussex) live in it. I have had them for 10 weeks now and they were sold as POL at the time. No eggs at all! I am begining to wonder if I should be doing something to encourage them, like a dummy egg? I was told the were 21 weeks when I got them but that would make them 31 weeks now! Both are eating and drinking well, enjoy their treats and are in good health. Any advice would be greatly appreciated baked Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
good_egg Posted November 20, 2012 Share Posted November 20, 2012 They might not lay til the new year. The days are quite short now - think traditional season was valentines to guy fawkes. Sussex don't seem to start til quite late anyway, don't know about speckeldy - are they pure breed? If hybrid might get sooner otherwise they'll start next year. Quite happy my wee ones haven't started as think its better if they are older. Welcome to the forum btb. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zakjon-98 Posted November 20, 2012 Share Posted November 20, 2012 Welcome to the forum Being hybrids they could start laying anytime as they are bred to lay quite early and in the winter unlike pure breeds although the winter could possibly be the cause. If they are starting to lay you can tell by their comb getting redder. Things like worms or mites can sometimes stop them laying so you might need to worm them with flubenvet. Problems like these are not usually a problem if they have only been in their house for a few weeks and red mite is not common at this time of year so it is probably not likely to be these but is something to consider if they continue not to lay. I would try the dummy egg and then if they aren't looking like they will lay in a few weeks try worming and checking the coop for mites. Hope they lay soon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baked Posted November 22, 2012 Author Share Posted November 22, 2012 Thanks for your replies. I have ordered a dummy egg (small size, don't want to overwelm them!) and will report back in a few weeks. Regards Baked Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monty14 Posted November 23, 2012 Share Posted November 23, 2012 It may well be that their age was wrongly identified when you got them - I bought a White Star that I was told was 18 weeks when she was actually about 13 weeks and took another couple of months to get into laying consistently. Some breeders will fib a bit about POL to shift stock. I have a Speckledy who lays all year bar her moult and she started laying around 24 weeks old and is now 3 yrs old Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baked Posted November 25, 2012 Author Share Posted November 25, 2012 Thanks Monty14, I did think about the age issue and whether they are younger than I have been led to believe! However I am now the proud owner of an egg. Unfortunately it is a rubber one! Newly purchased via the internet. Does anyone have any advice on how to use dummy eggs to try and stimulate hens to lay? Do I place it in the nest box for a few hours a day or just leave it in all the time? How long can it be left in the nest box? Can it be counter productive? Any advice will be greatfully accepted. Regards Baked Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purplemaniacs Posted November 25, 2012 Share Posted November 25, 2012 I have only used rubber eggs once they have started to lay and do not use the nest box. I put a couple of rubber eggs in the nest box to give them an idea of where to lay. I would have thought they would start to lay when they were ready and not before. Hope you have an egg soon. Chrissie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
