17 & 20 week RSLs.. No eggs

[ssbs]

My RSLs are 16 and 20 weeks old.. I've had no signs of getting any eggs.. The two 20 week olds have bright red combs, waddles and faces. Their combs are also becoming floppy. I've read and read the they start to lay at 16 weeks but I've had two people say that they probably won't lay until next year? When can I expect eggs?
It's been hot here, 80's and 90's..and lots of rain. Not sure if that plays a role or not

 

[donrae]

High production birds like red sex links CAN lay as early as 16 weeks, but 20 is the average age to start laying. If you have red combs, I'd say eggs shouldn't be far behind. The only other thing I can think of is if your birds free range, you might need to either confine them or go on a serious egg hunt.

 

[aggiemae]

I agree that a weekly egg hunt is a good idea with free rangers.

As for laying age...Our Wellsummer, purchased locally, is a well put together (conformation wise) and very healthy hen. She didn't lay until she was 11 months old even though her comb appeared to be as large and bright as the four other hens (different breeds) that were all laying beginning between 16 and 24 weeks. We did not appreciate how red and bright her comb would eventually be until she finally started to lay this spring. and now she lays beautiful large hard shelled dark brown eggs almost every day.

On the other hand of our six hen hatched in Arkansas and purchased at our local feed store two died the first day and of the four early layers dies before they were a year old and another since March and until recently has been laying a shell less egg every 8-12 hours for months. I suspect that the problems came from them being bred for production instead of longevity.

You put a lot of time and effort into getting them to this point so try to consider the waiting a sign of good health, better breeding and well worth the wait.

 

[aggiemae]

It's been hot here, 80's and 90's..and lots of rain. Not sure if that plays a role or not

add to my comment above: yes extreme heat and humidity will slow or delay egg production.

 

[EdenCamp]

A weekly egg hunt is likely going to result in batches of questionable eggs.
Wouldn't eat them when you do find them.
Do they have a coop to return to at night with nest boxes?
Do they disapear for periods during the day? Started hanging out in a particular area? That's where to look first for eggs.
They may not know where to lay - or where you would like them to lay anyway.
As hot as it's been, they may hold off starting to lay a while yet - dosen't do to get too concerned - they'll lay when ready. But shouldn't be too much longer.

 

[EdenCamp]

A weekly egg hunt is likely going to result in batches of questionable eggs.
Wouldn't eat them when you do find them.
Do they have a coop to return to at night with nest boxes?
Do they disapear for periods during the day? Started hanging out in a particular area? That's where to look first for eggs.
They may not know where to lay - or where you would like them to lay anyway.
As hot as it's been, they may hold off starting to lay a while yet - dosen't do to get too concerned - they'll lay when ready. But shouldn't be too much longer.

 

[ssbs]

They are a back yard flock in the city so the usually stay in their pen.. But I do let them free range our back yard two or three times a week. The yard it large and fenced. They love hiding in the bushes and virginia creeper but I try my best to look for eggs.. I know that if I didn't find them the dogs would carry them inside and plop them down in the dining room, leaving the shells. That's what they do with guinea eggs my brother puts outside. They do have a coop but no nest boxes. Reason being is that I plan to build a new bigger, better coop soon. The one we have now was damaged in a storm.

 

[EdenCamp]

Milk crates, even the fake plastic ones at Walmart work good. For that matter so do cardboard boxes with a good lip left on and wood shavings or hay in it. Girls are vunerable when trying to squeeze an eggs out and like thier privacy - think about it - wouldn't you? A golf ball or even a grocery store egg left in the nest box helps clue them where and what to do. If they are of laying age, providing the props to help get them accustomed to using a nest box sure helps locating clean eggs!

 

[EdenCamp]

Milk crates, even the fake plastic ones at Walmart work good. For that matter so do cardboard boxes with a good lip left on and wood shavings or hay in it. Girls are vunerable when trying to squeeze an eggs out and like thier privacy - think about it - wouldn't you? A golf ball or even a grocery store egg left in the nest box helps clue them where and what to do. If they are of laying age, providing the props to help get them accustomed to using a nest box sure helps locating clean eggs!

 

[ssbs]

I went outside to check on everyone and I think one girl is preparing to lay. She kept pooping a little, I approached her and she squatted (first time I've had that happen) her vent is also twitching