34 weeks and counting... no eggs.

[FabulousMandy]

I have a Golden Laced Wyandotte, a Silver Spangled Hamburg, and a White Crested Black Polish. All are currently 34 weeks of age and have yet to produce an egg.

What is going ON?! My Hamburg has been going through a serious molt so she's off the hook (for now), but the Wyandotte and the Polish have no excuses. The Wyandotte finally started squatting and developed an extremely red face recently so I've got my fingers crossed that an egg will appear soon, but the Polish is showing absolutely no signs of getting ready to lay, and that goes for the Hamburg as well.

And I've got to tell you, my Wyandotte sure is looking plump and delicious these days...

They're not hiding them anywhere, I don't have egg eaters, they've never been sick, never been injured, never been traumatized, they eat the right food, they get the right kind of treats (and sparingly), they came from Mypetchicken.com, they get plenty of sunshine, they have a magnificent coop and a very spacious run... I can't think of anything else. What else is there?? What else could I possibly do for these pampered free-loaders to encourage them to lay?? And I realize that Polish chickens aren't exactly known for their egg laying, but the other two are supposed to be pretty reliable. This is just ridiculous.

Someone help me before I eat them. Please.

 

[halo]

It could be your timing on them. We are getting close to the shortest day of the year, and hens depend on daylight for their laying cycle. Ive heard of people who hatch out their own chicks timing the hatch so they are hatched in the fall. That way when they are getting of laying age, the daylight is getting longer and longer and flushes them right into a good laying cycle.

So you may just have to wait.....

 

[MissPrissy]

This is the time of the year when egg laying normally slows down and often comes to a halt.


The birds need the time over winter to let their bodies rest and rejuvenate to get ready for the big spring egg laying season.

Also shorter/less sunlight days mean less eggs.

You can expect at max about 280 eggs a year from a hen and that is a relatively high number average from production layers. Chickens have a lot of down time in egg laying.

 

[Mahonri]

Are you certain of their age?

Did you raise them from chicks or buy them as started pullets?

 

[Plain Old Dee]

Look at it this way - each week that has gone by is one less week you have to wait! (I know, I know - shut up Dee!).

Seriously - they will lay when they are ready. Our BO's were nearly 32 weeks when some of them started to lay - the rest of them are still freeloading. Our RIR pullets are just now growing combs and turning red - so they should start laying in the next month or so - and they are the same age if not a bit older. Believe me, I know it's frustrating - we got chickens to lay eggs for my HUGE family and are still only getting two or three eggs a day. You and I are just going to have to hang in there - it WILL happen!

 

[Jess N Jeff]

Quote:
I am in the same boat as you. I am at 33 weeks and nothing. They have the best of everything they could possibly want and nothing. I've just given up on them. I am happy that my duck started to lay and I thank her everyday for not being a freeloader. As for the other girls....they are lucky they are pretty or I would have made a yummy meal of them by now.

 

[FabulousMandy]

Quote:
I guess I just figured if I bought my spring chickies early enough (they were either the first or second hatch of the season) I'd at least see one or two eggs before they take a break, but I guess not

.

My two old faithfuls were fall hatches and started laying at 20 and 24 weeks, so I'm going to keep all this in mind if (or when) we get more chicks in the future. Thanks!