Any one want to join me in waiting for eggs, posting and comparing notes?

[Jharter5130]

My brahama worked pretty hard in her box for a couple hours but no egg today

 

[Scott16475]

My four BA's will be 24 weeks tomorrow and still no eggs. They've been squating now for a couple of weeks so I keep thinking today will be the day only to be disappointed. I've kept them in the run during the day just to make sure they aren't hiding the eggs somewhere and letting them out to roam once I get home from work. Because of this, I know they aren't laying somewhere in the yard. I thought once they started squating they would be laying within days but we're going on two weeks so I'm not sure what is going on. I've even put in a light to extend the day. I'll continue to be (im)patient.

 

[KippenhokChick]

Just got my first egg today! So excited and I think Rosie down there is too e

 

[Scott16475]

Awesome!! I hope my girls lay soon!

PS: I have a cousin and her family that live in Atascadero and my wife and I were out there for the first time a couple of years ago. Beautiful city.

 

[LisaChick1]

Oh how I feel you!!!!! Mine were born May 30th and STILL NO EGGS!!!

I have 2 buff orpingtons, 2 light brahmas and 1 golden laced wyandotte pullets, plus my golden laced wyandotte rooster who just started crowing. I also have 6 others born about 5 weeks ago, 4 Easter eggers and 2 black austrolourps... I'm 90% sure on EE is a cockerel.
I'm crossing my fingers that we'll get eggs from my big girls before the real cold comes....
Does anyone know if there is special foods that help!? I'm feeding them organic layer feed and plenty of table scraps....
My 2 buffs I believe are 1 week older than the rest... They have noticeably large combs and waddles that are getting quite red.
COME ON EGGS!!!!!! Good luck everyone!!
Here's my buffs and my ducklings just for cuteness.

 

[KippenhokChick]

Hey Lisa. I'm a newbie but what I have been reading from some people (and opposed by others) that supplementing their diet with 'treats' can impact egg production. Mine get table scraps about once a week and scratch & mealworms every other day or so.

 

[LisaChick1]

Hi kippenhokchick!
Thank you for the feedback!! I have constantly been told to give them plenty of table scraps so I was always worried they actually weren't getting enough..... I finally have some advice to experiment with to see if it will help get them laying so thank you !!
With that said. They wake up to a feeder full of later feed.... Then with me being a health nut, I usually give them either some organic spinach, strawberries, oatmeal or egg leftover from my little boys' breakfast.
Than evening they get some scraps of whatever we eat so long as it is vegetarian and organic... I don't give them tons.... Do you think I should cut back to every other day!? Or even more???? Thanks SO much in advance!!!

 

[KippenhokChick]

For me, if my chickens are healthy and happy, that's all that matters. Eggs are just an added bonus. If I had enough fresh produce leftovers mine would probably get it every day as well. I wouldn't stress it, seems like you are giving them a healthy variety. They didn't have processed layer feed 100 years ago and they were laying then.

 

[Melabella]

Hi kippenhokchick!
Thank you for the feedback!! I have constantly been told to give them plenty of table scraps so I was always worried they actually weren't getting enough..... I finally have some advice to experiment with to see if it will help get them laying so thank you !!
With that said. They wake up to a feeder full of later feed.... Then with me being a health nut, I usually give them either some organic spinach, strawberries, oatmeal or egg leftover from my little boys' breakfast.
Than evening they get some scraps of whatever we eat so long as it is vegetarian and organic... I don't give them tons.... Do you think I should cut back to every other day!? Or even more???? Thanks SO much in advance!!!

Hi keppenhokchick!

As long as what the scraps you are giving them is natural and the added bonus of being organic I wouldn't worry too much. I don't like feeding too many treats, as it creates lazy heavy birds who lose interest in free ranging and finding the things that bring them natural vitamins and nutrients, they way nature intended. Of course if your birds don't free range then it is a nice idea, as it is a boredom buster and they get to hunt and peck for things. The simple facts of having layers come into POL at this time of year is the decreasing lack of sunshine that is upon us and the flocks. 26 to 27 hours of daylight is needed to produce an egg so even though these teenagers of ours are coming into lay, we aren't going to see as many eggs as we will be after the Winter solstice passes, and come the end of January , all these new egg layers will be paying us back in spades! Some breeds don't lay well in the cold weather, which is another factor. I actually think having pullets reach POL at this time towards January is a great time to grow out, as they will be laying as close to the start of increasing daylight in January and we will have a full year of laying until molt in the fall and then entering into the required rest. This of course is providing you dont' use any artificial light supplement. I prefer not to. I like things the way nature intended, and believe the chickens bodies need a break from the stresses of egg production and all that it brings on their systems.

I just rehomed my original 3 year old flock of hatchery layers. They taught me a lot, gave me a BOAT load of eggs, and they were great. I did go heavy in the beginning with lots of scratch and meal worms. I quickly saw they would run me down every time they saw me, but it also produced birds that followed me around mercilessly, follow me to the house, look in my patio window and beg for treats. I created couch potatoes, and started cutting back on the handouts. they spent more time on the edges of the property, and looking for the things they should be looking for. They ate more grasses, foraged for bugs, and my eggs were a rich deep gold color. I supplemented once a week with some chop meat simmered with organic garlic powder and a big fresh papaya. Its a natural dewormer, and they LOVED it. That was all I ended up giving them and I think they were better off for it. That and organic ACV added to their water 3x a week. I noticed a definite drop this past summer in egg production, and decided to rehome them. I am growing out 30 youngins, who will reach POL at varying times. The first to lay will be a White Maran, a Speckled Sussex and an Austra White who hopefully will lay close to a white egg. They are 22 weeks and still holding out. I picked breeds this year for my new flocks that are more geared towards being natural foragers, as I free range quite a bit, and think the birds are better off for it. I am excited for the New Year to begin, and enjoying learning about the new breeds, and their egg production. Here are a few pictures of the new kids...


















Keep all the updates coming, I have some catching up to do but love reading and seeing everyone's pictures!

MB

 

[sondieblondie]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/content/type/61/id/6594146/width/200/height/400[/IMG
[IMG]https://www.backyardchickens.com/content/type/61/id/6594147/width/200/height/400

FIRST EGGS FIRST EGGS!!!!! SOOOOOOO EGGCITED! My magpie duck finally laid her egg and hid them quite well in the coop! Found these four gems while turning the coop bedding! Now I have to wait for my other magpie, and 10 chickens!