19 and a half weeks old and still no eggs :( egg countdown anyone??

[blondiebee181]

I have 4 RIRs and got 2 in March and 2 in April. I have put golf balls in the laying boxes and find that they push them out and bury them in the coop. Still no eggs that I can find. I let them out during the day for a bit but keep an eye on them. Been hot and humid here in Ga so not sure if that is slowing things up or what.

Yep, hot weather will slow up any hen...wow, never heard of them pushing the eggs out before! The 2 you got in March are probably close, I got 4 in March and 2 of them are laying currently.

 

[knightie]

Heck my girls will fling the golf balls out but not the eggs...m heck I finally had3 of the 4 currently laying girls lay in the next boxes today for the first time....they usually go under the duck coop ( I have a special tool to keep from climbing under there... a kids yard rake used as a scoop. (G) some of the girls have been laying for several weeks (one going on 4) and they've just started squatting... they do it for me but not the rowdy roosters who will be going to be bachlors and bug eaters at my friends place...

 

[Rhoise]

Thanks everyone for the kind words and responses

@ Blondiebee Frankie is a Golden sex link, and congrats on Ginger your RIR squatting!!

I was working in the yard today and heard some clucking behind a shed that backs right up to our property line, in a panic i thought one or a few of the girls had scaled the fence while i was mowing, I raced back there and didn't see anybody?? on second look, just inside the fence i saw three girls the two gold sex links "Frankie & "Francine" and "Betty White" one of the Amber Whites wedged behind the shed all sitting on top of each other in a make shift nest of old oak leaves(I've never seen them back there ever) what a site! they sat back there clucking and carrying on for a while but no eggs! Betty acted strange went into the coop and sat in the nest boxes for an hour during dinner, I was absolutely convinced she was going to pop out an egg...just as Frankie last Sat she was acting weird kinda stunned tail down for about an hour i figured in "labor" but then suddenly popped out of it and started pecking around the yard like everyone else.....I'd have bet money on an egg today but maybe tomorrow...

@TnMama.... I was almost thinking of using an old dog crate for a "Yard" nest box for a little more privacy or a different spot for the gals, but like you would like to try and get them to use the nice coop we have spent a pretty penny on to please them!!

.....

I have to laugh at everyone's antics well not "at" (because mine classify and border on psychotic) I just chuckle because these hens are doing what hens have been doing for thousands of years, who am I to control it? Ha!! They don't give a rats about fancy nest boxes, and vitamins, where do they prefer? the privacy of an old dog house, an old pile of oak leaves, a hidden stash of gold in the tall grass, those hens are just thinking hmmmm I love this corn this nut job just tossed us yum yum yum......and not some crazed maniacal human stuffing her nose up their behinds every two seconds...have ya layed an egg yet huh? huh? huh?

Tomorrow is another day, I will try not to have nightmares about egg eaters and wish and hope for the next surprise......

 

[wlrabbitry]

Still waiting for My new hens to start laying. I do have 2 Ameracaucanas I bought that were already laying and decided to let the one hen hatch them out. Now I have no eggs...LOL. Does anyone know if the other hens will continue to lay if one is sitting on eggs?

 

[Autumn D]

some hen take 2 years to start laying

 

[flowerchic]

Mine are doing the "chicken dance". So are all the roosters. I have set up three areas in the coop and all have been visited and they have kicked all the shavings all over the place.
I also noticed everyone is clucking instead of the just the normal sounds, and everyone (including me) are all giddy. waiting, waiting, waiting....no pressure...

Congrats to all that are having eggs!! I can't wait for our first eggs. Now what method of storage to use??

giddy I say!!!

 

[wannabafarmgirl]

I WAS waiting....but our Barred ROck just laid our FIRST EGG on Friday!! WOO HOO! It was SOOOOOO delicous!



20 weeks on the dot (and it has been VERY hot in Colorado this summer)! Now waiting for the RIR that's the same age to kick in...she's doing the egg squat and her comb/wattles are getting very red. Also have another BR and a random Blue Andalusion that are about 1 month behind. LAY BABIES LAY!! Got the 3rd egg from the BR today like clockwork his morning!

 

[flowerchic]

Okay since I was on last, Piper laid an egg. I can officially say "we have an egg"!!!

It is a speckled medium egg...Piper is a Prod Red (I think).
I noticed everything calmed down and saw she was out standing in the chicken pool, so I went and looked, (thinking it will be tomorrow) and there it was. Yeah!!! Post a pic later!!

Now anyone have an suggestions on how to store them?? There has been so much debate, wash them don't wash them, but in refrig, don't but in frig, just lay on counter, etc.
Anyone??

Also, eat egg or let her lay and hatch more naturally. Meaning I have no incubator or prepared to set one up...decisions, decisions???? Has anyone let a chicken just do her thing when it comes to laying and hatching naturally?? Tips??

 

[Rhoise]

I WAS waiting....but our Barred ROck just laid our FIRST EGG on Friday!! WOO HOO! It was SOOOOOO delicous!

CONGRATULATIONS yayayayayyayaya!!!!!!!!!!!! So petty brown

 

[Rhoise]

Okay since I was on last, Piper laid an egg. I can officially say "we have an egg"!!!

It is a speckled medium egg...Piper is a Prod Red (I think).
I noticed everything calmed down and saw she was out standing in the chicken pool, so I went and looked, (thinking it will be tomorrow) and there it was. Yeah!!! Post a pic later!!

In the pool?????? Yay!!!!! I'd take one any way but soft at this point CONGRATS!!!