Buffs not laying yet

[Cliff Chicks]

The Cliff Chicks say Happy Birthday Girlfriend!!

 

[elaineinspain]

They shouldn't get layer until after they are laying and even than I find it to be too low in protein to support, growth as well as egg laying when anything else is added to the diet. I would put them on a non medicated grower or a All Flock with protein in the 18-22% range. If you feed layer you should feed nothing else and it should only be fed when hens are actively laying. I personally don't feed layer anymore as it has left my bird deficient in the past.

My 2 pullets were hatched 11 March 2016 so are now over 45 weeks old and still not laying. I started giving them layer mix when they were about 35 weeks old. The layer has 16%protein, the starter feed had 20% protein. (Here in Spain I can only get starter or layer) Both pullets are a good size (ca 5.5lbs) and their combs and wattles are red, but I haven't seen them squatting. They are living together with a rooster of the same age. The climate here is similar to south California. They are free ranging all day and sleep in their coop. I feed ca 3oz fermented layer feed per bird in the mornings and the same again in the evenings (18 oz in total for the two pullets and the one rooster) Do you think I should go back onto the starter feed?

 

[elaineinspain]

They shouldn't get layer until after they are laying and even than I find it to be too low in protein to support, growth as well as egg laying when anything else is added to the diet. I would put them on a non medicated grower or a All Flock with protein in the 18-22% range. If you feed layer you should feed nothing else and it should only be fed when hens are actively laying. I personally don't feed layer anymore as it has left my bird deficient in the past.

my BO pullet is 45 weeks old and not laying! She lives together with a cochin pullet and BO rooster the same age and neither the cochin nor the BO are laying. I gave them 20% protein starter (fermented) until they were 35 weeks old then switched to 16% protein Layer mix (fermented) because I heard giving them layer mix makes them lay. Now I'm worried - should I put them all back onto the starter again? They free range all day and I see them eating bugs, worms, seeds, leaves, and plants, and they sleep in their coop. I give them around 3oz of fermented feed per bird twice a day, mornings and evenings. (so around 6oz per bird per day) We live in South Spain which is similar climate to Southern California. Can you think of any other reason they aren't laying yet? I have checked all over the orchard where they free range and they haven't laid any eggs there. ( I thought they might have) I know birds are like people and mature at different times, but is 45 weeks and no squatting or laying yet healthy?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I would put them back on the grower as they don't need the extra calcium. You can cut the protein content of the grower down by adding something like scratch to their diet, a few handfuls tossed out daily. Orpington are slow to mature. I'm not familiar with the strains in Spain, I just realized that rhymes, but they could be a bit slower than some here in the USA. Some show bred birds don't begin laying until close to a year.

Yours look like big well bred birds. I would expect something from them soon. I personally don't use layer anymore. If you do you should use as the sole ration and only feed it when they are actively laying. I prefer to feed other feeds and put out a dish of free choice oyster shells for them to regulate their own consumption. I don't get the odd shelled eggs any more like I use to get on layer.

 

[elaineinspain]

I would put them back on the grower as they don't need the extra calcium. You can cut the protein content of the grower down by adding something like scratch to their diet, a few handfuls tossed out daily. Orpington are slow to mature. I'm not familiar with the strains in Spain, I just realized that rhymes, but they could be a bit slower than some here in the USA. Some show bred birds don't begin laying until close to a year.

Yours look like big well bred birds. I would expect something from them soon. I personally don't use layer anymore. If you do you should use as the sole ration and only feed it when they are actively laying. I prefer to feed other feeds and put out a dish of free choice oyster shells for them to regulate their own consumption. I don't get the odd shelled eggs any more like I use to get on layer.

Thank you for your advice. After reading that other people's Orpingtons were laying with 6 months I was worried they were not healthy, or maybe too fat or too thin, and that's why they are not laying yet. (I'm new to this. They are my first chickens ever. I'm enjoying every moment of them. Even when my rooster gets a little overzealous at feeding time and jumps up at me. I've learned a long handled broom keeps him at a nice distance)
Yes, maybe the strains in Spain that live with Elaine (I've caught your rhyming bug!) are slower to mature than others. The guy I bought them from specialises in Orpingtons, Cochins, and Marans and he breeds them for showing. I won't be showing them though. I bought them because I heard that Orpingtons and Cochins are more docile than other breeds, and I figured that would be good for a beginner. Thanks again for your quick reply. You've put my mind at rest.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I had forgotten your name rhymes with it all.

Your hens will be very pretty birds but they will fall very short on production. Show bred birds often are very poor at egg production. I had a show bred buff Orpington she hardy ever laid and was broody quite often. She sure was pretty compared to my hatchery birds, but if I had expected eggs out of her I would have been disappointed. Breeders tend to mostly breed for looks, where hatcheries breed more for production.

You can check for body condition on your birds by feeling their keel bone on the chest. It should have some meat on it but not be like a turkey or chicken bought in the store. It should feel vaguely sharp and prominent. Young birds shouldn't have much fat at all on it, and older birds should have some. It's good to become familiar with how it normally feels so that if you suspect your birds aren't feeling well you can check their condition to see if they are fat or thin, or just right.

 

[petra65]

Not really sure why, but one week after I wrote here the two Buffs are laying.

I gave them extra protein, sunflower seeds etc, but I don't really believe its related to the eggs. I am really exited..Finally!!
Thanks for all your input!
Petra

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

It seems to be what happens a lot on this site. Most folks who ask about it get an egg within the week. Don't know why it works but it does. Congratulations.

 

[elaineinspain]

I had forgotten your name rhymes with it all.

Your hens will be very pretty birds but they will fall very short on production. Show bred birds often are very poor at egg production. I had a show bred buff Orpington she hardy ever laid and was broody quite often. She sure was pretty compared to my hatchery birds, but if I had expected eggs out of her I would have been disappointed. Breeders tend to mostly breed for looks, where hatcheries breed more for production.

You can check for body condition on your birds by feeling their keel bone on the chest. It should have some meat on it but not be like a turkey or chicken bought in the store. It should feel vaguely sharp and prominent. Young birds shouldn't have much fat at all on it, and older birds should have some. It's good to become familiar with how it normally feels so that if you suspect your birds aren't feeling well you can check their condition to see if they are fat or thin, or just right.

I'd just like to thank you again for all your help and announce that my buff orpington and cochin have both started laying! The cochin started on 9th February and the orpington on 24th. And they have both been presenting me with a beautiful medium sized egg each, every day since.

 

[petra65]

I'd just like to thank you again for all your help and announce that my buff orpington and cochin have both started laying! The cochin started on 9th February and the orpington on 24th. And they have both been presenting me with a beautiful medium sized egg each, every day since.

Congratulation!!! Nothing better than the First egg!!
Mine are in full preparation for Easter