Australorp Egg Laying

[Eggwarts]

Hi - we have a 26 week old black Australorp (Arnold) - she (and her 2 friends) are in coop/run until 4pm each day and then free range until sunset when they are locked away each night. Feed is layer seed/pellets and kitchen scraps.

Arnold - yes she is a hen - laid her first egg 29 days ago, skipped 4 days then #2, skipped 12 days for #3 (all in her nesting box), #4 came a few days later but was laid in late afternoon in the middle of the yard and we are now up to day 7 waiting again.

Her vent looks the same as her friends who are laying regularly, her combs and waddle are large and red.

Any ideas as to what might be going on???

Thanks
Jeff

 

[rosemarythyme]

New layers can be a bit glitchy or erratic as they ramp up to laying, plus daylight hours are shortening in the northern hemisphere which may have some effect on pullets as well as hens.

Or possibly, she's a bit of a dud, but probably too early to know for sure.

 

[Eggwarts]

New layers can be a bit glitchy or erratic as they ramp up to laying, plus daylight hours are shortening in the northern hemisphere which may have some effect on pullets as well as hens.

Or possibly, she's a bit of a dud, but probably too early to know for sure.

We are in the Southern Hemisphere - so mid Spring 12+ hours of daylight.

she also aid a few she’ll-less eggs

 

[rosemarythyme]

We are in the Southern Hemisphere - so mid Spring 12+ hours of daylight.

she also aid a few she’ll-less eggs

Ah, I only glanced at the location and didn't mouse over.

Guess the hope then is that she's ramping up and just doing it slower than other birds. How are you supplementing calcium, since you mentioned shellless eggs? Layer feed, oyster shell, etc?

 

[Sueby]

Don't mind me, I just came in to LOL at the one peeking in the door.

 

[Eggwarts]

Ah, I only glanced at the location and didn't mouse over.

Guess the hope then is that she's ramping up and just doing it slower than other birds. How are you supplementing calcium, since you mentioned shellless eggs? Layer feed, oyster shell, etc?

we feed them layer pellets and a seed mix that is for Layers - purchased from local supplier. We also have shell grit available to them. They get teh kitchen scraps almost daily and about 4hrs a day to free range in the back yard where they make one hell of a mess

we gave them some sardines a week or so ago as a treat - they loved it. The kids also rummage through the compost looking for worms - before they started laying they wouldnt touch them, but lately any living thing is devoured!!!

 

[Eggwarts]

Well our Black Australorp is now 33 weeks and rarely lays an egg - in the last 6 weeks we have got 3 eggs

We are feeding her a quality layer pellet, we add shell grit and we have started meal worms as extra protein. We got advice form the produce store to cut out the kitchen scraps. We have stopped her free ranging so no chance of her hiding eggs. Her coop buddies are laying great so it cant be her feed.

We are in the southern hemisphere - so plenty of sunshine and warmth

She is looking very healthy - shiny feathers, big red comb and wattle, no mites and her vent looks just like the other chooks. She is full of energy.

The 3 chooks share 1 nestign box, though we just added an outdoors one with a fake egg to see if that would kick start her - but zilch, nadda, nothing.

She has a small amount of brown/red feathers on her breast - thinking she may not be a "pure" Australorp - could this be the issue?

Any advice on other tricks to get her going would be greatly apprecaited.

Jeff

 

[aart]

We have stopped her free ranging so no chance of her hiding eggs. Her coop buddies are laying great so it cant be her feed.

Confining her alone could be stressful, I would try confining them all.
But then you may have to accept that some birds are just not stellar layers.

Free range birds sometimes need to be 'trained'(or re-trained) to lay in the coop nests, especially new layers. Leaving them locked in the coop/run for a week or so can help 'home' them to lay in the coop nests. Fake eggs/golf balls in the nests can help 'show' them were to lay. They can be confined to coop and maybe run 24/7 for a few days to a week, provided you have adequate space and ventilation, or confine them at least until mid to late afternoon. You help them create a new habit and they will usually stick with it. ..at least for a good while, then repeat as necessary.

 

[April0617]

Well our Black Australorp is now 33 weeks and rarely lays an egg - in the last 6 weeks we have got 3 eggs

We are feeding her a quality layer pellet, we add shell grit and we have started meal worms as extra protein. We got advice form the produce store to cut out the kitchen scraps. We have stopped her free ranging so no chance of her hiding eggs. Her coop buddies are laying great so it cant be her feed.

We are in the southern hemisphere - so plenty of sunshine and warmth

She is looking very healthy - shiny feathers, big red comb and wattle, no mites and her vent looks just like the other chooks. She is full of energy.

The 3 chooks share 1 nestign box, though we just added an outdoors one with a fake egg to see if that would kick start her - but zilch, nadda, nothing.

She has a small amount of brown/red feathers on her breast - thinking she may not be a "pure" Australorp - could this be the issue?

Any advice on other tricks to get her going would be greatly apprecaited.

Jeff

We have one Australorp that lays almost every day, very consistent, and one that just pops one out randomly once in awhile. She was actually the first to lay, in September, but just super sporadic. They are almost eight months old now. She's healthy and happy, top of the pecking order and a good boss. I'm hoping she'll get more consistent in spring once the days get longer, but I told her she's a good bird and we'll keep her either way

 

[Eggwarts]

Confining her alone could be stressful, I would try confining them all.
But then you may have to accept that some birds are just not stellar layers.

Free range birds sometimes need to be 'trained'(or re-trained) to lay in the coop nests, especially new layers. Leaving them locked in the coop/run for a week or so can help 'home' them to lay in the coop nests. Fake eggs/golf balls in the nests can help 'show' them were to lay. They can be confined to coop and maybe run 24/7 for a few days to a week, provided you have adequate space and ventilation, or confine them at least until mid to late afternoon. You help them create a new habit and they will usually stick with it. ..at least for a good while, then repeat as necessary.

hi - we have a small coop that they sleep in and a run (3m x 6m) which are are confining them all in. We had been letting them into the backyard for an hour or 2 late in the day but they are digging relentlessly (chasing cicada's we think).

think we are forming teh conclusion that she is just a pet chicken