Aren't they old enough to lay?

[AK Michelle]

I got my chicks Easter weekend, April 11th. Some were already a couple weeks old, others were day olds. But still no eggs.

I feed them a layer mix, they have oyster shell and I feed them treats of mashed hard boiled eggs, cottage cheese, bread, salad, fruit & yogurt (not all at once, but a variety)

They are out in the yard most of each day dining on grass & bugs, sunning themselves and just being spoiled rotten chickens.

When will the free-loading end?

Are they just like teenagers, once you feed them they're just going to hang out and do nothing?

Is there anything I can do differently to "inspire" they to get busy?

 

[Sillystunt]

I know they are late blooomers LOL I feel like i have been wating for ever for my girls to lay. Someone said, 26-28 weeks???

 

[nivtup]

Depending on the breed some seem to take forever.

Our RIR were starting at 20 weeks, whereas our Buff Brahmas took forever.

Good luck, and I hope you see eggs in the boxes soon.

 

[only one lay]

I was still putting things together for my birds at 17 weeks. my son found a stash of about 8 eggs undar the lip of sand box. After ssearching other hideing areas we found 7 more eggs. If free around the yard they hide them well.

just like the teenagers you mentioned- they try to hide everything they do.

 

[AK Michelle]

They are confined to the run till they start laying eggs and figure out where they go. So they really don't have anywhere to stash them.

 

[tryingtohaveitall]

We got ours the same weekend and some are laying, some are not. I didn't see if you mentioned what breeds you have. Some mature and lay earlier than others.

Out of our 11 pullets and 1 hen, we did get 7 eggs one day but most days we're getting 4 or 5. Of course, 3 of those pullets are Golden Comets, known for starting to lay earlier.

Hopefully soon!

 

[AK Michelle]

I have silkies, Mille Fluer's , Dorkings and then some marans mixes and ee's

 

[AK Michelle]

I keep a light on 24/7. Basically I don't have timer and I forget to turn it off. But they don't havea window so they would be in total dark without the light once they were in the coop.

Should I put a much lower watt bulb in so it is darker but not pitch black? Or is the light not a problem? Or should I just suck it up and quit spoiling the birds (don't know if I can do that... See the crazy chicken lady thread

)

 

[AK Michelle]

The eggs are here!!! We got our first egg, it's a nice medium sized light tan egg. Silkie perhaps? It was on the floor but it was perfectly shaped and beautiful!

 

[Happy Chooks]

Congrats!!!! See, all that complaining worked.