Chickens about to lay... 2 questions?

[jstlitlome]

My chickies are 19.5 weeks old now, I am just certain every day that I'm going to find an egg, but no go yet.. the waiting is killing me!

1)
I have a SLW that has been sitting on the ground a lot. Most of mine perch in the run, but she spends a lot of her time in the dirt. She looks all nested down. If she were laying I would think she was broody! (although I have no idea exactly what that looks like because I'm new to chickens) She eats well, and scratches, and doesn't seem to be uncomfortable, but she behaves differently than the others. Really, she always has been a bit of a loner compared to them. But the sitting a lot is new. Is it just because she is about to lay? She was the first pullet to get red wattles. So much so that I thought she was a rooster, but she is not.

2)
I have several others who squat when I come near them, and have gotten very red and vocal. The rooster is all about mating with them.I switched them to an all natural all-flock feed, because I didn't want to give them all calcium in the layer feed since I have two roosters and a couple of pullets with no wattles yet. I didn't think that the calcium would be good for those. I have some oyster shell calcium to offer as free choice, but thought I would put it in there the day of the first egg. I thought I might switch to layer feed once all of the hens are laying. Does that sound like a good plan?

 

[BertandMary]

1. Not sure about the WSL being on the ground like that. Chickens can have their own personalities, a lot like my kids. One of my kids doesn't like being in his bed and prefers the floor. I would check the roost to ensure it is comfortable first, and after that, as long as she is eating and acting otherwise normal, I wouldn't worry too much. It is odd behavior, but no unheard of. Nearly all I have ever raised roost, but every now and then I fond one that sleeps in the nest box with no signs of being broody.

2. If they are 19 weeks or older, I would already have them on layer feed. I start mine at around 17 weeks. I don't mix anything into their food, but have a separate place for oyster shell and grit. Mine free range most of the time too, so they get whatever they find along with layer feed.

I know how hard it is to wait for chickens to start laying. Mine just got past their initial laying where we would get some large and then some small, and now they are all large brown eggs. We only have six hens, and not all have started laying. Much like people, they mature at different rates. Two started right at 20 weeks, then another a week later, and a week after that a fourth started. We still have 4 confirmed layers right now and get 3 to 4 eggs every day. With six, we will average nearly 5 eggs a day once they get into full production. My advice is to give them layer feed, make grit/gravel available. I wouldn't worry about the oyster shells unless their egg shells are thin. I only give it to mine because my wife insists we do. They are a part of the family and jump on my lap and follow me around when gardening or doing other chores. They aren't just food, they are pets to us too. BTW, they are the red chickens from Tractor Supply. Some folks seem to get all bent out of shape if I call them RIR's, so I am ok with Red Chickens. LOL

 

[jstlitlome]

Thanks, Bert!

I should have specified that she will roost at night in the coop, but not in the run during the day. She spends the day in the dirt. Kinda weird, but like I said, she has always been a bit of a loner.

So the calcium in the layer feed wont hurt the roosters or the immature pullets? I thought I read somewhere on her that it will. Maybe I'm overthinking it! Darn..I just bought a new bag of all-flock. Do you think it will hurt to just finish up this bag and offer some oyster shell, then switch to a layer feed? I have a great source for some local organic layer feed that I was hesitant to use because of the calcium in it.

 

[BertandMary]

If she roosts at night and sits in the dirt a lot during the day, I wouldn't worry at all since she is eating and otherwise being normal. I have a couple that are always taking dirt baths, while others are happy to chase bugs in the yard and scratch for things.

How young are the pullets? I thought they were 19.5 weeks which is fine for layer feed since they are already getting ready to produce eggs. Use the al- flock up and supplement with table scraps. Our roosters were always fine with the layer feed and scraps too when we raised them years ago. We can't have roosters in the city so I don't stay up on them.

 

[jstlitlome]

Thanks Bert and Mary! and they get veggies and scraps everyday, and get out to free range about 3 times per week for a few hours. I will use it up then get that organic layer feed that I've been looking at.

 

[treehugger1979]

Bert & Mary -
I think I like you and I haven't yet met you. Hubby and I are anticipating moving to the Fayetteville area by January. We have been chicken keepers, gardeners, composters, and treehuggers. What can you tell us about how to find neighborhoods that are friendly to people like us?

Linda

 

[BertandMary]

Sorry, but I haven't been on here in a while. Fayetteville is ok with 10 hens in the backyard, but you have to have the hen house 25 feet from a property line and 25 feet from housing structures.