2- 30 weekers, 2- 26 weekers and -1 23 week old... no eggs :(

[gbartha]

We hatched out our first chicks in June, 4 of the 6 were roos. I have now two 30 weekers (barrred rock mixes), two 26 weekers and one 23 week old (buffs)... no eggs still. One of my 26 weekers (buff) squats when I pet her but still nothing. My 23 weeker usually sleeps between the two larger girls but keeps going in and out of the nestbox. Think I will have to wait till spring?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Winter solstice was this week. Have patience. Days are getting longer, ovulation is imminent.

Day vs. night. As daylight increases vis a vis night, gonads are stimulated, sexual maturity happens and voila - eggs.

What are you feeding them?

 

[gbartha]

Winter solstice was this week. Have patience. Days are getting longer, ovulation is imminent.

Day vs. night. As daylight increases vis a vis night, gonads are stimulated, sexual maturity happens and voila - eggs.

What are you feeding them?

Yea I figured that it was due to the short nights. They are being fed on Layer food (16% protein). I bought some cracked corn to feed them in the afternoon. I also have been giving them black sunflower seeds or oatmeal every other day, and meal worms ever other day. They are not free-range. We do let them out for an hour or so but we have a family of red-tailed hawks that live near by as well as a local fisher cat and coyotes. We live in CT.

 

[Joe19]

I am in the same boat. I have 2 buffs, 2 Easter Eggers, a RIR and a RIR/Black Orp mix. All are between 24 & 30 weeks. I'm seeing a little redness around the face on 1 buff and the RIR but no squatting what so ever. I'm in south Mississippi and our weather has been really crazy. 75 one day 40 the next. Rainy & humid today. Plus the short nights. PLUS they aren't eating the layer pellets like I hoped. (Yes , they get spoiled with scratch). I've cut down on the scratch to almost nothing and I mixed the pellets in water and it helped some. ANYWAY.......I've pretty much surrendered to the fact it's probably going to be spring before I see eggs.

 

[aart]

Quote: How long have they been on the layer feed?
You're probably shorting them on protein.....and they don't need the excess calcium in the layer feed until they are actually laying.
Not that changing their diet will 'make' them lay right away, but would be good to consider it.

I like to feed a flock raiser/grower/finisher 20% protein crumble full time to all ages and genders, as non-layers(chicks, males and molting birds) do not need the extra calcium that is in layer feed and chicks and molters can use the extra protein. Makes life much simpler to store and distribute one type of chow that everyone can eat. I do grind up the crumbles (in the blender) for the chicks for the first week or so.

The higher protein crumble also offsets the 8% protein scratch grains and other kitchen/garden scraps I like to offer. I adjust the amounts of other feeds to get the protein levels desired with varying situations.

Calcium should be available at all times for the layers, I use oyster shell mixed with rinsed, dried, crushed chicken egg shells in a separate container.

 

[gbartha]

How long have they been on the layer feed?
You're probably shorting them on protein.....and they don't need the excess calcium in the layer feed until they are actually laying.
Not that changing their diet will 'make' them lay right away, but would be good to consider it.

I like to feed a flock raiser/grower/finisher 20% protein crumble full time to all ages and genders, as non-layers(chicks, males and molting birds) do not need the extra calcium that is in layer feed and chicks and molters can use the extra protein. Makes life much simpler to store and distribute one type of chow that everyone can eat. I do grind up the crumbles (in the blender) for the chicks for the first week or so.

The higher protein crumble also offsets the 8% protein scratch grains and other kitchen/garden scraps I like to offer. I adjust the amounts of other feeds to get the protein levels desired with varying situations.

Calcium should be available at all times for the layers, I use oyster shell mixed with rinsed, dried, crushed chicken egg shells in a separate container.

Got my first egg today!!! Its from one of the buffs. Not sure why my barred rock mixes aren't laying.

 

[Joe19]

Congratulations. The waiting is terrible.

 

[GOTchickens1978]

Im in the same boat with 4 barred rock hens. Theyre 24 weeks and nothing but red faces. No squatting yet.

 

[gbartha]

Im in the same boat with 4 barred rock hens. Theyre 24 weeks and nothing but red faces. No squatting yet.

Its def. one of my 27 weekers. She laid another egg today and then sang her egg song. Not sure which one since both 30 weekers are squatting. My little 24 weeker still has a lighter face and wont squat at all. My 30 weeker barred rocks are also free-loaders. No squatting, no eggs in sight.