Bantams Won't Lay

[whoacowboy]

Over the last several months I have purchased two silkies and two silkie crosses. I have no eggs. I have a chicken duplex with standards on the other side. They lay continuously. They range in ages 6 months to 1 1/2 years. Any thoughts? They have been wormed, dusted, etc. This is my first time with bantams so I'm not sure if I'm missing something important.

 

[Pele]

Hrm, it's hard to say without more info. Let me ask some clarifying questions:

What age are these birds?
What condition did you get them in?
What do they do during the day? Sit in the box? Normal chicken stuff?
What are you feeding them?
Exactly how long has it been since they've moved in?

 

[Jakl]

(Most) Bantams lay only in the spring/summer/early fall, not in the winter much at all. The reason I mention this is that it has to do with the quantity of sunshine they get, the less sun, the fewer eggs... are they on the shady side of the duplex?

 

[FrizzlesRule]

i have bantams and they lay few eggs in the winter. My six year old red Cochin frizzle just started laying again. I'ts been a long winter. But they do lay good in the warmer weather. Make sure you feed them some greens everyday.

 

[mstricer]

My bantams lay in the winter. If the are only 6 months you should start to see eggs any day now.

 

[whoacowboy]

Well tonight my young silkie cross did the egg squat...so yay!!! To answer some questions, The duplex gets the same amount of sun. And there's actually a translucent roof so sunlight gets in. I got them in very good condition. And two out of the four were laying before (one is actually a momma). She laid her only egg the day after I got her. Their ages are 6 months to 1 1/2. During the day they run around their spacious run. When I come home we alternate days. Standard chickens one day, bantams the next. All but one standard chicken will kill the little ones given the chance The only one that doesn't is the mother hen, a RIR. But that's another topic. I feed them Homegrown brand layer. It's from the local feed mill. They don't eat anything when it comes to treats except dry oatmeal. Boring. Where the standards are garbage disposals. Two (silkies)moved in late December and two (crosses) moved in mid January. Like I mentioned...all my standards are laying great. Thank you!!!

 

[Kev]

It's not that they won't lay. its down to hormones. also, it's the breed.... silkies aren't bred for laying ability and so will seem to be very poor layers compared to breeds that were bred strictly for egg production such as RIR. It's this difference you are simply seeing- you're used to your RIR being laying machines and just surprised at not seeing the same thing in another breed.

Be aware, silkies are also generally very inclined to broodiness and often difficult to break them of it once started. they dont lay eggs during this phase, so it contributes to their overall poor egg performance.

 

[sourland]

Your standards were bred and selected for egg prodction. The bantams were bred for 'pretty'. They will lay, but to expect them to lay as consistently as the standards is unrealistic.