Billy the Free Loader!--Update Billy is a Free Loader No More!!

AuntNomi said:

I feel your pain. I have a guy here in my area that will swap chicks out for grown chickens. He gives 2 chicks for roos, and 4 for hens. So if mine is not laying by the time she is a year old my plan is to trade her to him for the chicks.

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dekel18042 said:

X2, plus SOME (not all) who would start laying when the days are shorter will wait until the days get longer to start laying.  I've found as a rule, hatching chicks in Jan or Feb so they mature during longer days seems to aid in earlier laying with most laying by five months.  The one who mature in winter can take up to 8 months and I've even had some go over that.

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Cel45 said:

I went to collect Tilly's egg today and I found three eggs in the nest. Tilly's egg, the fake white egg I leave in there, and another lighter brown egg. When I picked up the lighter egg it was very chalky. I thought my three year old had put one of the fake brown eggs in the nest. But when I went into the garage, the two fake brown eggs were there. This egg looks like the fake ones. Two pics below. The first is Billy's and the second is Tilly's and Billy's (Billy's egg is on the right).








Hello All,

I am just looking for some words of wisdom. I am enclosing some pics of Billy one of my Production Reds. Billy is 32 weeks old. Billy has not laid and egg, and does not squat. Her sister, Tilly (I will enclose a pic for comparison) has been laying since since December 3rd and has taken two days off in that time span. What do you make of Billy? Could it be that she just will not lay or not very well? She sure is not living up to her Production Red background. Here is a little information to help.

Feed:Started them on layer at 18 weeks, but took them off when I red the directions which said from the first egg. I then put them back on grower until about 21 weeks or so after the feed manufacturer said it would not hurt. I recently about three weeks ago put them on Flock Raiser since Billy was not laying, along with a side of oyster shell. They also get wild bird seed spilled from the bird feeder and a little that I spread, and occasional things like sprouts and meal worms.

Housing:Current coop is a converted rabbit hutch with shavings on the floor (It is the type with the pull out bottom.). I it kept spotless as I live in a residential neighborhood and do not want any smell, or as little as possible. The coop sits in a temporary run, but they free range all day. New coop under construction but going slow since I am working two jobs. Anyway, please let me know what you guys think.

Now pics of Billy
Billy:

Tilly for Comparison: NOTE THAT THE PIC BELOW IS OF SISTER BILLY WHO HAS BEEN LAYING SINCE DECEMBER 3RD.

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