25+ weeks and no eggs

[DigitalEd]

Hey all,
I've got 3 Golden Comets (red sex-links) and an RIR that are 25+ weeks old. None have started laying. The rooster is mating with them but I've heard that doesn't matter.

These 4 are the survivors of 13 we got as chicks. They either had or got something that killed them off one by one in the brooder despite all our efforts (and isolation and cleaning).

Is it possible that whatever disease killed their sisters has delayed or prevented them from laying?

Thoughts?

----- Ed

 

[Chick Charm]

Are you free ranging them? Yes that is a bit longer than most links but some chickens just take longer. I would cover my bases with feed, full protection and of course not free ranging till they get the nest thing down.

Wish ya the best.

 

[Chick Charm]

Is it possible that you have snakes taking some eggs? We have some big snakes here in the south.


Phil

 

[nbenevento]

Are they showing the signs of being ready to lay? Are their combs bright red? Do they squat when you near them? I guess it could be possible that a disease could have messed them up but unlikely if they never showed any signs of being sick at some point. It does seem like a long time to have not stated aging but it's not unheard of by any means. Look for the signs and if they are there, it won't be much longer.

 

[DigitalEd]

Hey all,
Just to follow up, it seems patience was the order of the day. Two of the girls laid yesterday.

The combs were very red and the two had been hanging out in the coop the day before, checking out the nest boxes intently.
They did free range and preventing that wasn't practical given they are part of a flock of 14.

It also definately wasn't snakes since none of the other eggs were missing.

----- Ed

 

[KFCcrafter]

chick charm, what do you mean by not letting them free range till they have the nest thing down? I have some late layers too who free range all the time. Is this a hinderence to them laying?

 

[Chick Charm]

chick charm, what do you mean by not letting them free range till they have the nest thing down? I have some late layers too who free range all the time. Is this a hinderence to them laying?

No hindrance to laying in general. But it can be a hindrance to having them lay where you want them to, in your nest boxes. I was fishing to see if they were laying somewhere in the free range area. Free range chickens tend to find a favorite nest that is not in the best chicken coop provided. I free range my chickens every day on 11/3 acres and inevitably some of the hens will try to lay in nests they have made under cover somewhere secretively. If I keep them in the run and coop for a few weeks as chicks they have usually known where to lay when the time comes.

I have never had sex links that took that long to start laying. I usually see mine start to lay around 18-20 weeks. So DigitalEd was right to question why they took so long to start in my book.

 

[KFCcrafter]

thanks for the quick reply, our RIRs have not shown any interest in the nesting boxes and were being let out every morning for the day. The last two days i kept them in the run, which ****** them off quite a bit. However two of the hens are now running up and down the ramp, singing an egg song, kicking the nesting box straw all around. So, your tip seems to be working.