Estimated Year Old Leghorn, Yet to Lay an Egg

kingsleycoop

In the Brooder
5 Years
Oct 7, 2014
24
3
24
This is our baby Freya. She was rescued from an egg factory about 2 months ago. From some research and further inspection, I've come to the conclusion, she has yet to lay in egg. She has doubled in size, since we got her. You may be able to see from the picture, her beak was cut, when she was a baby. They did a horrible job, and she grew up, having trouble eating. She currently has access to fresh greens, worms, water and of coarse feed that is easy for her to eat. My husband noticed her squatting a few weeks ago but we have yet to see, any eggs. She seems happy and healthy, but am curios why we have yet to see any eggs.


 
Is she free ranged?
You might need to coop her up, put some fake eggs in the coop nests to show her where to lay.
Do you have other chickens?

Free range birds sometimes need to be 'trained'(or re-trained) to lay in the coop nests, especially new layers. Leaving them locked in the coop for 2-3 days can help 'home' them to lay in the coop nests. They can be confined to coop 24/7 for a few days to a week, or confine them at least until mid to late afternoon. You help them create a new habit and they will usually stick with it.
 
She is free range when we are home and able to watch them. And currently working on building a bigger coop and run. Otherwise they do spend a good amount of time in the coop and run able to "nest." I have one other leghorn from the same flock and she lays an egg for us daily. I was thinking of trying to fake egg approach to see if it helps. Thank you!
 
Keeping her inside is a good idea to at least see. I have had a fair share of rescued chickens that did not lay eggs. One was three years old and very scarred, and she had not ever previously laid an egg. It took finding her a good home, one right for her weird ticks and fears for her to start laying. I have a bantam right now who came from a bad situation flock. She was the only bantam in a flock of 9, 3 boy and six girls. They were in a cramped dust-bowl of a run, and everyone else picked on her out of boredom and her being the smallest. I have had her for a month or so. She was born the March of this year and still has a small, pink comb. She is definitely a weird one. Some never lay who had it rough, and for others, it takes time and the right home.
 
If she is indeed not laying eggs, I would attribute that to the poor nutrition and care provided by her previous owner.

As you say, she has almost doubled in size since you started looking after her. That would indicate to me that there was a lot of malnutrition she had to catch up on, and that alone could delay egg production.

I am so grateful she now gets a second chance with someone who cares about her.

- Krista
 
If she is indeed not laying eggs, I would attribute that to the poor nutrition and care provided by her previous owner.

As you say, she has almost doubled in size since you started looking after her. That would indicate to me that there was a lot of malnutrition she had to catch up on, and that alone could delay egg production.

I am so grateful she now gets a second chance with someone who cares about her.

- Krista
Yes very true! She seems so much happier and I have noticed her comb is starting to go from pink to red. Every day it seems to get brighter. I have tons of patience for her, and am still learning.
big_smile.png
 
Keeping her inside is a good idea to at least see. I have had a fair share of rescued chickens that did not lay eggs. One was three years old and very scarred, and she had not ever previously laid an egg. It took finding her a good home, one right for her weird ticks and fears for her to start laying. I have a bantam right now who came from a bad situation flock. She was the only bantam in a flock of 9, 3 boy and six girls. They were in a cramped dust-bowl of a run, and everyone else picked on her out of boredom and her being the smallest. I have had her for a month or so. She was born the March of this year and still has a small, pink comb. She is definitely a weird one. Some never lay who had it rough, and for others, it takes time and the right home.
SO good to know! Thank you! She seems to be happier now, and we are still working to provide her with the best home and a little extra care.
thumbsup.gif
 
UPDATE: Yay our first egg from the "baby" was yesterday and I JUST picked up her second egg this morning! Yay!
 

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom