32 week old EE's not laying??

[Farmgirl217]

Hey everyone!

Hope you all had a great holiday season! I got chickens in September and am a first time chicken owner! I figured they were about 18 weeks when we got them, that would put my girls at about 32 weeks old now. I was hoping we would get some eggs before the new year... but no such luck. We have had some pretty cold temperatures lately, highs in the teens and low twenties with even colder wind chills. They still come out of the coop but are spending more time inside and out of the wind. Is there anything I can do or possibly feed them to promote egg-laying? I believe around 26 weeks is average for them to start laying.

Hope you all have a great New Year!!!

 

[Welshies]

What are you currently feeding them? Do you have nest boxes, if so what are the sizes? Does your coop have a window? are their combs bright red or very pale and shriveled?

 

[sourland]

Easter Eggers have been selected/bred primarily for egg color - production is not as early or high with them as production bred birds. Spring hatched birds might have started laying before the shortened day period. Your birds will most likely not start laying until day length increases. Patience.

 

[Cl2Abbeyrd]

I have 3 Easter eggers, too, and just posted in the pictures and stories thread about their first winter so far!

Mine are about 2 weeks older than yours, and only 2 are laying. My houdan-ee cross STILL hasn’t laid an egg at 34 weeks. The other 2 started at 28 and 31 weeks.

At this point, I’m figuring they won’t lay again until spring. Still waiting to see what color egg our slacker is going to lay.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/my-3-girls-and-their-first-milwaukee-winter.1214082/

 

[Farmgirl217]

@Welshies We are currently feeding them DuMor 16% layer pellets. We have three nesting boxes in our coop that are about 12x12, the coop has two windows that can be closed, and the combs are a bright red and seem to be larger as of lately.

 

[Farmgirl217]

@sourland Thanks! I can't wait for my first egg!

 

[Farmgirl217]

@Cl2Abbeyrd Thanks for the information! Good luck with your girls, especially the slacker, haha!

 

[Welshies]

@Welshies We are currently feeding them DuMor 16% layer pellets. We have three nesting boxes in our coop that are about 12x12, the coop has two windows that can be closed, and the combs are a bright red and seem to be larger as of lately.

If they are not laying don't feed them layer pellets
The comb is a good sign but your coop may be way too light for them to lay.

 

[junebuggena]

@Welshies We are currently feeding them DuMor 16% layer pellets. We have three nesting boxes in our coop that are about 12x12, the coop has two windows that can be closed, and the combs are a bright red and seem to be larger as of lately.

Easter Eggers do best on a higher protein diet. And switching to layer before they are ready to lay can drastically slow down their development, taking them even longer to start laying. They need to be kept on a feed with at least 18% protein content.

 

[Welshies]

Easter Eggers do best on a higher protein diet. And switching to layer before they are ready to lay can drastically slow down their development, taking them even longer to start laying. They need to be kept on a feed with at least 18% protein content.

Maintenance feed or all flock feed (18% or 20%) seems to be the general favorite here. Provide a side of free-choice oyster shell and those gals will do fine.