Red Sex Links not laying 26wks

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fogleg

fogleg

Hatching
10 Years
Aug 23, 2009
4
0
7
Hi all,
I have question. I have been anxiously awaiting my first eggs. My first pullets are three Red Sex Links purchased at a popular farm supply store. Was told they were 20wks when purchased (it says this on receipt), which would make them 29 wks now. I called the store, and they informed me they were 17 wks when purchased, not 20 (this would make them 26wks).

So, if they are 26 wks, should I be expecting eggs soon? Does this seem like a very long time before laying for this breed?

Thank you for any advice or guidance.
 
It does seem rather late, but I'm not really an expert. I just know that this particular breed is bred to lay early, about 20 weeks. They could just be late. Are they getting enough calcium? Enough sunlight? They need about 16 hours of light a day. Other people probably know more than I do though and have more experience. They could also just be late bloomers.
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ETA Hey, welcome to BYC!!!!!
 
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5-6 months before most chicken breeds start laying,however if the chickens don't have enough protein in their food the they will not lay eggs. The body must store enough protein before the chicken can reproduce,just feeding corn or scratch will not meet their protein requirments feed a lay ration 16% or higher with oyster shell should get them a laying.
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so you are saying to mix scratch with regular layer feed ???

Because i took mine off layer and went 100% to scratch and they are laying way more and better eggs then they were on just the layer .


So the question is mix the two foods or no ???
 
Straight scratch doesn't have enough nutrition for your birds.

If the sexies are 26weeks you should be getting eggs any day now. Could there be some place where they are hiding the eggs? Do they free range?
 
I have been feeding them layer pellets since I got them at 17 weeks. I also have crushed oyster shells free choice. I only give them a handful of scratch once or twice a week. Otherwise, some sporadic fruits and garden leftovers.

I was concerned about light because I have a lot of trees. Is the 16 hrs of light supposed to be direct sun, or just ambient daytime light. They come out of the coop at about 8am and go in around 8pm. They are not free range, but I built a separate large run on wheels that I move into the sun as it hits different points of the yard. It has been pretty hot the past two weeks and they were breathing with their beaks open and looking for shade every time I did this, so I have stopped. Does anyone think that light could be my problem?
 
I am betting the age the feed store told you was way off. If you can take pics and post them we might be able to tell you better. I am betting they are closer to 17 weeks now as most feed stores do not sell chickens that old. Are the combs bright red? They should be if they are at laying stage.

I also agree with Speckled hen are you sure you have hens and not roosters? Most feeds stores this year got more roosters than hens. Even when they said they were pullets they were not. Reason for that is because those of us that bought from the hatchery order just pullets so we get them first over feed stores. Most feed stores get what ever is left over unless they are doing special order for thier clients.
 
The first three pics are of each of the three red sex links. The second picture is of the chicken that is the loudest and most aggressive of the three, but it does this weird squat when I touch it to move it out of the way which I thought maybe a hen behavior but I don't know. The last picture includes an ameracauna hen that is now 1.5 yrs old for size reference.What do you think, do any of the sex-links seem like roos?

39746_beaks.jpg

39746_loudest.jpg

39746_runt_1.jpg

39746_reference.jpg



Thank you everyone for all your help.
 

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