20 weeks, no eggs.

[turtlebird]

Have you placed a few decoy eggs or golf balls in the nest boxes yet? I don't think that the sight of an egg would hurry the process along, but perhaps they will get an idea of where to put them when they do decide to lay an egg!

 

[gritsar]

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Or go to the grocery store and buy about five dozen eggs. That usually does the trick.

 

[Dogfish]

Golfballs securely mounted in the rollout nest box.

 

[Dogfish]

Got the first two eggs today! Threats apparently work.

 

[gritsar]

Quote:

 

[Dogfish]

2 eggs today, long suckers. Caught the culprits, a Barred Rock and a Rhode Island Red, and they are now sporting new leg bands. 2 hens down, 14 to go.

 

[speckledhen]

You know, if you only have about 16 hens, you need only one rooster, maybe two. You said you added a "few" roosters-how many? More than two and it could be a big problem later. Might want to invest in a few saddles for the girls before you really need them.

If mine laid at 20 weeks, I'd consider that early. I have six pullets, about 24 weeks old and only 2 are laying so far.

 

[Dogfish]

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I have two roosters, but one will be going away soon to a friend. To date the roosters seem to be pretty good with the girls. No damage, no feathers pulled, and a few squat for the boss. It was kind of funny, the BR was in laying her egg, and the dominant Roo was outside the coop, clucking encouragement like an expectant father, while she did the heavy lifting.

Here is the first egg (left) and the two laid today! I also added another store bought "jumbo" to show what size they are relative to that. The first one is pretty small. Almost a banty sized egg, and very dark, but the pic doesn't show it.

Banded the two who laid these, a barred rock and a rhode island red. Two down, fourteen to go.

Eggs are getting cheaper every day!