how to encourage the start of egg-laying?

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bibliophile birds

bibliophile birds

Songster
10 Years
Oct 4, 2009
828
10
131
Great Smoky Mtns, Tennessee
my girls are nearly 5 months and still no eggs. they hop in and out of the nest boxes and the boys are giving mating their very best attention, but nothing to show for it yet. i can't add light because my coop is mobile and in the middle of a field. is there anything dietary that might encourage them?
 
I have a feeling they get really good food from you (looked at your website). All the little girls need is more light, so it is just a matter of time until the days get long enough to trigger their bodies into egg production.
 
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yes, i was afraid this would be the answer... drat! i'm not so great on the patience thing.

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aww, thanks! that makes me feel good. i've had a few nice little chats with them, but they just don't understand yet. i'm thinking that maybe a few extra bundles of kale might just be the bargaining chip i need to convince them.
wink.png
 
yes, i'd heard that and was thinking of ordering some. it's worth a shot.

i feel like they are teasing me mercilessly as they've been making nests (first in the hay that was on the floor and now in the nest boxes) for over a week and they take turns hoping in and out of the boxes. silly little pullets.
 
If they're showing interest in the nest box, it won't be long. I have 3 pullets who were 5 months old on the 21st. One laid her first egg on the 20th and the other two both laid their first egg yesterday (22nd). One hopped in the nest box the day before her first egg, but the other two, the first time I saw them in the nest box was the day they laid their egg.
 
4hooves&featheredfriends :

Don't know if it is a wives tale but - how about wooden eggs in their laying boxes?

The wooden eggs, or anything remotely shaped like an egg - I use golfballs - encourages them to lay in the nestboxes, but it's not going to make them lay any sooner than nature intends for them to.
It's like Davaroo said, patience. Console yourself with this...it's said that pullets that start laying super early, per their breed, are more likely to have problems with being eggbound and other reproductive issues, than pullets that mature slower.
Also, never get brahmas. I waited 9 1/2 months for two of my girls to start laying. It was worth it though, because they are two of my most dependable layers.
wink.png
 
For what it's worth.............
my first pullets (two years ago) were 21 weeks old. One night before closing the coop for the night; i gave them the sweet talk of what good girls they were...... right as i closed the door I stuck my head in and YELLED " NOW LAY SOME #$%^&* EGGS
Next morning at 8:00 I had two fresh eggs.
 
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well, at least some good comes from this waiting game then!


Also, never get brahmas. I waited 9 1/2 months for two of my girls to start laying. It was worth it though, because they are two of my most dependable layers.
wink.png


barnie.gif
i've got 3.... and was planning on breeding them. come to think of it, i think those are the only girls i've NOT seen checking out the nest boxes.

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this will be the tactic in about a weeks time.​
 

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