Almost 5 months and still no eggs

[PotterWatch]

I have one BR that started laying at 19wks. I have another BR and an EE who are 22wks now, an RIR who is 21wks now, and none of those three are laying. I'm just trying to be patient

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[Pupsnpullets]

29 weeks and still nothing! One of her siblings - the EEer - started in mid July and the other sibling started on 8/1. The girl that's still holding out looks as though she should have started at least 3 weeks ago!! Yes, I believe it is time for the ultimatum.

 

[Country Guy John]

I have 15 barred rock pullets that were 20 weeks old on last Wednesday (9/10/08) and 6 of them have already started laying. I guess the others will start within the next couple of weeks.

Im sure that yours will start soon. Good luck!!!

 

[LynneP]

Our golden comets (RIR red x RIR white) started laying pullet eggs at 16 weeks 3 days and 5 out of 12 are laying at 17 weeks. Our fruit trees are loaded with apples, pears and plums, but I have avoided giving them fruit on the advice of a poultry farmer who says that while they are getting used to laying eggs they need a lot of protein, which your ration provides, but that if they eat too much fruit they get overloaded with sugar instead. These are my first birds so I rely heavily on those who know, I hope others will chime in on this opinion.

 

[Wynette]

Hey, I have two EE hens that began to lay at 32+ weeks! I just patiently waited...and, they both lay XL or Jumbo sized eggs, so my patience was rewarded!

 

[Pupsnpullets]

Finally, the first egg from the last hold out! They hatched on the 2/26 and the last one has found the nest box! So that is 6.5 months. The first one started at about 4.5 months.

How are yours going, Wobsters?

 

[WestKnollAmy]

That is why I purchased so many different breeds. I knew some were likely to lay sooner than others and I am about to burst to get them all laying. Imagine, 80 hens laying almost every day!

One of my Black Stars laid her first egg earlier this week. She is 17 weeks old. The other pullets aren't quite sure what she is doing in that box and pester her, even though everyone free ranges.
They go next door to the "grown up" coop and see those girls laying but never bother them. I suppose this is one of their "sisters" and they want to poke their nose in.
So far, the Black Star has laid every day this week, even though I have heard they don't lay consistently at the start. Maybe the other breeds will vary and I am keeping a notebook on them so I will remember for future buying.

It is very, very hard to wait even though I get eggs from all my other hens.

 

[thewobsers]

Well, Tuesday will be 22 weeks and still nothing. The roosters are very VERY frisky and the hens of course protest alot. We feed them scraps from the house along with the feed. And we have included apples from the trees too and tomatoes from canning scraps. So maybe that is where i need to stop?
Their feathers are so beautiful and they look so healthy too.
Trying hard to be patient. Been catching crickets and grasshoppers for them too as the run is barren from the scratching and pecking.
"good things come to those who wait"

 

[mcg30_40]

I'm not sure how old my RIRs' are but it's approx 5-6 months and they still aren't laying. I'm growing very impatient! I have 7 old laying hens and then these 25 that I'm waiting on. They get laying pellets, scratch grain, and scraps...I know they are getting everything they need. I even use a mower with bagger so they get fresh grass every week.

 

[Ellie_NY_chick]

I was in the same boat too. I would talk to my girls, and they would look at me like I was crazy (they're right), but lo and behold at 21 weeks (last Sunday), my girl Willow started laying one egg a day like clockwork. I'm hoping the others will catch up soon.

Be patient - it will happen!