I have switched them almost 4 weeks ago to an all flock feed (1 rooster and one intersex 4 hens), and gave them access to the oyster shells about 5 weeks ago, but still haven't seen any eggs. I'm not sure if it is because it is cold up here, and we are on the shady side of the mountain, so he sun rises late and sets early... or if I shoudl be concerned...
Here in the northern hemisphere, we are approaching the shortest days of the year. Pullets coming to age at this time, will likely not begin to lay until mid-January when days will be getting longer again.
Here in the northern hemisphere, we are approaching the shortest days of the year. Pullets coming to age at this time, will likely not begin to lay until mid-January when days will be getting longer again.
I have switched them almost 4 weeks ago to an all flock feed (1 rooster and one intersex 4 hens), and gave them access to the oyster shells about 5 weeks ago, but still haven't seen any eggs. I'm not sure if it is because it is cold up here, and we are on the shady side of the mountain, so he sun rises late and sets early... or if I shoudl be concerned...
I have one pen of 6 month old pullets that just last week started to lay their first small pullet eggs. And not all of them, either. One girl has laid 7 eggs & one girl just yesterday gave me her first. The light is short lived & your girls sound still quite young. I'd say, no worries.
Dont be worried! Some hens just take their time . Have a 50 week old olive egger ( cuckoo Marans x ccl ) . Marans are known to take their time and she’s healthy, so I’m not worried about.
Well we are laying now! LOL. Not long after this post, right before thanksgiving and life got busy, the girls started popping em out like crazy. About one a day for most of the girls, and for the other girl it has been every other day. So we have had plenty of fresh deviled eggs and egg noodles for the holidays
We don't have any lamps, or heat, so I have been actually really surprised by the quantity coming in this time of year, I'm assuming it will slow down here soon as winter really gets into play. Though none of our girls seem to mind the cold. It's been well under freezing quite a few times, but they seem to enjoy it. (they are EEs with muffs and an opal egg bar).
They the are also really healthy looking eggs too! Much larger than I first expected (about a medium, so I'm assuming they will end up on the larger end once they are over a year). The shells are good and solid, with really healthy looking yokes and whites.
The only issue we are having now is that we have one that is laying outside the coop, and her eggs are freezing/cracking open if we don't find them in time (the every other day girl which i think is the opal legbar). We've been scrambing those ones up to give back to the chickens, but struggling to get that particular hen to go into the coop to lay.... We plan on getting some of those fake eggs and some thicker nesting pads to see if we can coax her.
Any advice on getting a chicken to move laying spots?
