5 1/2 month old hens! cant wait for first eggs! -questions!? (:

[StarStruck203]

Since it was winter and cold here, i had a heat lamp on them 24/7. since spring is coming should i turn it off, or leave it on till they begin to lay? will it affect their laying since i will be reducing light?

i have 3 Barred Rocks, 1 Buff Orphinton, and 2 RIRs can anyone tell me, on average, when each breed generally begins to lay (possibly by personal experience?)

and another thing, how can i ensure they know where to lay the eggs? i have wheat straw and 'fake eggs' in their boxes. anything else i can do?

oh! and can some one explain the 'squatting' to me?

you dont have to answer all 4 questions, just whatever you can would be absolutly greattttt!

thanks so much!!!

i cant wait for eggs!!!!

 

[Farmergreen]

Quote:
On the heat lamp "Turn it off" Never use a lamp unless it is going to be extremely cold. The extended light causes them to lay more sure. But laying more than nature designed is stressful and shortens life span.

As far as where they will lay.Most will use the boxes you have built others will lay wherever the urge hit's em.

Most chickens will lay between 4 to 6 months. Your breeds should be laying any day. Feed 16% lay pellets only no need for scratch or other suppliments except oyster shells
those you put in a seperate pan and make shells and pellets availible 24/7

What are you refering to "Squatting"

 

[fl_deb]

Squatting is the same position the hen would assume if a rooster was going to mate her, legs bent and spread slightly for wider more steady base, with wings at sides, dropped down a bit again to help for balance once the rooster is ready to mount hen.

Trust me the first time you see one of your pullets squat, it will be obvious what she did.

 

[StarStruck203]

i feed them laying pellets twice a day in their pans, and scatter feed in wheat straw in coup run for them to scratch for to keep them from being bored. and they have oyster shell mixed in with thier feed. i let them outside from 3-8ish on weekdays and all day on sat/sun. and return them to coup around 9. is this fine too, as far as feed intake?

ill turn off the lamp. thanks!

and ok, fl_deb! i hope so, i just cant wait for them to start laying, so im anticipating them squatting!

thanks for the answers!

 

[Farmergreen]

If you have a way leave pellets availible 24/7 They will knock a lot out and have some to scratch around Saves you a step. If the feeders are large enough you won't have to feed but maybe 3 times a week unless it gets wet. Also if you see a large quanity of pellets left scattered on the ground leave the feeder empty until they clean up.
Letting them out is the best way "free range"

On the squatting: This is a good sign they are reaching maturity. Look out for eggs soon. Reason I asked, Some people confuse laying down and dusting themselves with squatting.

50 layer hens
18 goats
7 Call ducks
25 OEGB's
Parakeets & Finches
Also a large assortment of dogs and cats

 

[StarStruck203]

yea, iv been meaning to make a wooden automatic feeder for them but i just havnt had time. ill get on that soon!

yea, i see no signs of squatting.. owell

 

[Chick CJ]

If they are at the point of lay stage, squatting may occur if you approach them from above as if you are going to pet them. I say may, because some hens never squat. I have some who did and some who didn't and still don't. (I have never had a rooster)

Another way to tell if they are ready to lay is their comb/wattles will begin to turn more red than pink and as they start laying it gets even brighter. Although each individual chicken begins to lay at different ages, it is not uncommon when chicks of a same age are raised together, for there to be a domino affect, when one begins to lay, then a few days later another, then another and so on. I have had that happen twice now. All the pullets were different breeds and all began laying within two weeks of each other! I do not know if there is a scientific reason for this but it sure was an exciting two weeks at our house!

I am excited for you! First eggs are the BEST!!!

Cathryn

 

[Farmergreen]

Quote:
An old Chicken Man told me on my OEGB's to keepem close they stimulate each other. So I do and it works. Seems every spring when they go to laying when the first one lays they all start in the next couple weeks.
Oh and you will notice a fast change in comb & Wattle coler just like simp said.