23 and a half weeks, not a single egg yet!

[BuddingGardener]

I have 4 pullets, and they're my first chickens, hatched on April 6th. I have two easter eggers, one black australorp, and one speckled sussex. My australorp has been squatting for two weeks, comb and wattles are huge and bright red. One easter egger has a nice red and thick pea comb. The others look a little bit behind, but reddened.

I have 0 eggs to show for it, lol. This is the longest wait. They are only let out of their run supervised so they're not stashing eggs anywhere. *sigh.*

 

[Backyardhomestead921]

They might be laying eggs somewhere else in the yard ( hiding there eggs).
And sometimes they just take a week or two.

 

[BuddingGardener]

They might be laying eggs somewhere else in the yard ( hiding there eggs).
And sometimes they just take a week or two.

If they are, they would have had to be extremely stealthy. I usually make the rounds around the yard and follow them (we don't have a very large property). The run has no eggs, the coop and nest boxes just have the dummy eggs I placed in there. Nothing yet... I know that maturity can vary SO much but all the signs seem to be here and nothing. Crazy!

EDITING to add: they are being fed Flock Raiser (the last of our one bag) and then getting switched to Layena. We offer oyster shell, which they eat happily and I refill pretty frequently. I also feed a daily treat bowl that I clip to the side of the run filled with a bird "chop" of veggie mix, some cut up fruit I have on hand, a sprinkle of oats or chicken scratch and a palm full of live mealworms or BSFL.

 

[Idaho Chicken Bungalow]

My Marans girls were exactly 6 months. I have a salmon fav just laying as an early March chick. A few others took 8 months. I have some pullets I know will be after the new year.

 

[BuddingGardener]

@Idaho Chicken Bungalow I keep trying to tell myself it isn't abnormal, especially after the oppressive heat we've had this summer. But it sure is an agonizing wait!

 

[Idaho Chicken Bungalow]

@Idaho Chicken Bungalow I keep trying to tell myself it isn't abnormal, especially after the oppressive heat we've had this summer. But it sure is an agonizing wait!

Oh, but is soooo worth it in the end. Last October I started calling the small flock Moochers! they didn't listen much as it was November 17th! Crazy to remember such a date!

 

[BuddingGardener]

Oh, don't get me wrong, I love them dearly. They are like a part of the family and help give me some peaceful, calming, quiet time in the backyard. They're wonderful pets to keep. The eggs are just a bonus -- but one I'm excited for! Time to exercise more patience.

 

[Henfla]

Are they squatting when you try to pick them up? All my chickens hatched may 1st, and the bantam cochin started laying this week about one week after she started squatting. Two of my others (wyandotte mix) started squatting a little bit after the bantam cochin, and one of them are starting to get interested in the nesting box so I hope and think she will start laying in a few days. I read that when they start squatting, they often start laying about a week after.

 

[BuddingGardener]

Are they squatting when you try to pick them up? All my chickens hatched may 1st, and the bantam cochin started laying this week about one week after she started squatting. Two of my others (wyandotte mix) started squatting a little bit after the bantam cochin, and one of them are starting to get interested in the nesting box so I hope and think she will start laying in a few days. I read that when they start squatting, they often start laying about a week after.

Only my Black Australorp is doing a serious squat -- wings spread and everything. I believe she is closest.

 

[Henfla]

Only my Black Australorp is doing a serious squat -- wings spread and everything. I believe she is closest.

Fingers crossed she'll start laying soon