Any tips to get my ladies layin?

[devs]

Hi all, we've had or 3 hens for 11 days now and I would like to encourage laying throughout the winter. So far we have only had one small egg (not in the nest box)

They have supplemental lighting that is on at 5am until 8pm each day. The run is open each morning at 7.30 and closed each evening.

The run is currently fully covered to minimise wind and rain.

There food and water is situated in the coop.

I introduced 2 fake wooden eggs to 2 of the 4 nesting boxes yesterday.

They do not seem to be using the run much at the moment. I can only assume this is due to the weather?

I'm situated in the UK.

Does anyone have any thoughts or suggestions as my kids are losing patience quickly

Some photos of my setup below...

 

[SueZ 24]

How old are they?

 

[nchls school]

In looking at your pictures, one pullet (brown with small comb) does not look old enough to lay. As a pullet matures the comb becomes larger and redder just before egg laying starts. How old are the other two? Since the combs are so developed they could be any age.

I suspect that your expecting what some time will give. Be patient-good food, laying mash, fresh water and you will probably get eggs shortly.

 

[devs]

Hi, they are 14months old. i can not remember the type but they were sold as good layers! (One looks like an Eagle?!)

 

[devs]

In looking at your pictures, one pullet (brown with small comb) does not look old enough to lay. As a pullet matures the comb becomes larger and redder just before egg laying starts. How old are the other two? Since the combs are so developed they could be any age.

I suspect that your expecting what some time will give. Be patient-good food, laying mash, fresh water and you will probably get eggs shortly.

Thats great, many thanks. I new to this and didnt understand why one didnt have a comb. They are all being very well looked after and hopefully they will begin to lay soon

 

[nchls school]

On the two hens with the large combs, the combs do not appear very red; possibly just the picture. When combs are not bright and red the hen is not in condition. 14 months-at that age, if healthy, the should have bright red combs. I can tell you they are not all the same age.

After being cheated in my younger days I guess I do not have a lot of faith in people when they are selling... Purchasing chicks/obviously young pullets/or hatching eggs is what I do when I want new birds. Once mature, a healthy chicken could be any age to a buyer. Unfortunately...

I hope this is not what happened to you and you'll soon get lots of eggs. Good luck.

 

[devs]

Interesting mate and thanks for the comment. It had crossed my mind and as you say its only as good as the seller word. At least I have one that appears to have not reached the age yet. Many thanks, Steve.

 

[rosemarythyme]

You'll need to tell the kids to be patient. The brown bird does appear to be younger and not yet developed enough to be laying. They also just came to a new home so stress will throw them off any laying schedule they already had.

 

[devs]

How long do you think it will take for them to get used to a new home? i was going to call the guy that I purchased them off this morning with a view of swapping out the two older birds. Would this be worthwhile? Thanks.

 

[GodofPecking]

mine lay through winter where everyone elses don't. You need to put most of your effort into variety of food scraps, from your kitchen, your neighbors, shops, food restaurants, whatever you can get. The coop looks good, can they dig in the soil outside to dust-bath ? I can't see the ground there.