24 weeks and no eggs? - Page 9

I have a question that I haven't seen presented in this thread yet.  Are you 100%, beyond any shadow of a doubt, no question whatsoever in your mind ---- that your hens aren't laying exactly where they believe they should?  In other words, check your yard.  There are a lot of hens that just don't 'get' the nesting box idea, and create their nests in various places around their yard area.  Check under bushes, behind sheds, behind anything that is laying up against something else (in case they're cramming themselves between things to lay).  Check the chicken run...especially under any hay or bedding you may have.  If they're laying out there, could be getting covered up by another chicken, too.   Just a suggestion, not meant to cause any ill intent.   I hope they leave you some eggers soon!

Or...you may just have a bunch of egg-munchers in the coop and they're dining on their production.  Also could be a furry 4-legged egg-thieving critter.  Any chance of setting up a game cam?

Quote:

Originally Posted by humphrey farms 

My pullets havent laid yet (BLRW) and they were late spring hatched (5/27) and I was pondering the same idea that now its mid Oct. (Maine) less light, and getting coldier that most likely like you believe the pullets  first eggs are going to be long awaited. Glad though that I saw your post. Makes me feel better about my flock.

I am in Maine too, my hens were hatched April 9th and just started laying a only a couple of weeks ago. I was looking all over the yard for eggs because I didn't think they could possibly NOT be laying, but they just weren't. They were just too young. It's better for them to be older anyway. They were between 25 and 26 weeks when they started. Once one did it, they all followed suit pretty quickly. My Australorp is a laying champ. I fear for her getting broody actually, she is obsessed with the process and God forbid should I be near the hen house when "it's time".

But I digress...

They all run back to the hen house to lay when out foraging because I kept them inside the coop/run for a couple of days until I got an egg. I would definitely recommend keeping them in and putting a ceramic egg in the nesting box so they get the hint. When I removed the distraction of foraging and the big yard, dust bathing, leaf scratching and bugs they love so much, they didn't forget to do what they are supposed to do. If that's really what happened... It worked for me but I'm a first-timer so I don't know if it works for all. I got 4 eggs today so the shorter days don't seem to be affecting them yet.

Quote:

Originally Posted by CluckyCharms 

I have a question that I haven't seen presented in this thread yet.  Are you 100%, beyond any shadow of a doubt, no question whatsoever in your mind ---- that your hens aren't laying exactly where they believe they should?  In other words, check your yard.  There are a lot of hens that just don't 'get' the nesting box idea, and create their nests in various places around their yard area.  Check under bushes, behind sheds, behind anything that is laying up against something else (in case they're cramming themselves between things to lay).  Check the chicken run...especially under any hay or bedding you may have.  If they're laying out there, could be getting covered up by another chicken, too.   Just a suggestion, not meant to cause any ill intent.   I hope they leave you some eggers soon!

 

Or...you may just have a bunch of egg-munchers in the coop and they're dining on their production.  Also could be a furry 4-legged egg-thieving critter.  Any chance of setting up a game cam?

We'll check the yard; however I have a rather extensive flower garden...so...who knows. You can see my issue with the flower garden. We got 1 year old Ameracuanas, hoping they would show our 25ish week old Orps where to lay the eggs. A couple of the Orps looked at Kate (the 1 year old) as she was laying in the nesting box like "What the heck are you doing in there?" I figured the rest will copy cat and use the nesting box or once the flower garden dies back, we will find the egg stash! 

Quote:

Originally Posted by LakeBird 

We'll check the yard; however I have a rather extensive flower garden...so...who knows. You can see my issue with the flower garden. We got 1 year old Ameracuanas, hoping they would show our 25ish week old Orps where to lay the eggs. A couple of the Orps looked at Kate (the 1 year old) as she was laying in the nesting box like "What the heck are you doing in there?" I figured the rest will copy cat and use the nesting box or once the flower garden dies back, we will find the egg stash! 

I see three eggs in that picture.   I'm kidding, actually - but either way I hope they start laying eggs soon - in an area that is easily visible (preferably in their boxes, lol)  Gorgeous garden too, btw.

I found the first 5 eggs my girls laid out in plain view in their pen. I had no idea they had laid. I had gone into the pen to give them treats and was sitting in the chair watching them, started looking around the pen to see if I needed to do anything while I was in there and saw the first egg. I sat there a good 2 minutes staring at it until it hit me! I thought "you dummy, that's an EGG!!!" I jumped up (scared the girls and Nosy the mean rooster) and went to pick it up, glanced over to the coop, and there was another one. I looked around and ended up finding 5. I was shocked. They finally figured out what the nesting boxes were for though. I put straw in them and they loved it. I have 2 nesting boxes in the coop but most of the time, they all lay in the same box. Go figure. Good luck on the Great Egg Watch 2012! 

Quote:

Originally Posted by CluckyCharms 

I see three eggs in that picture.   I'm kidding, actually - but either way I hope they start laying eggs soon - in an area that is easily visible (preferably in their boxes, lol)  Gorgeous garden too, btw.

Thank you. It was late last night...what I meant to say is that we have looked in the most common areas where they lay down, which is under a few of the trees. 

For what it's worth, I have a fluorescent light on a timer set to come on around 3 in the morning to give them extra light. I turned it off last fall and could tell a difference in laying within a week.