Chickens havent laid eggs, help?

[sjarvis00]

This is the first time I have owned chickens. I have 12 hens that are already laying. But since I brought them home I havent gotten 1 egg. I have had them for a week. Is there something I am doing wrong or are they still adjusting to a new home?

 

[LynneP]

It may take a bit longer- I bet that once an individual starts they'll all get up to speed.

May I ask what you are feeding them?

and

What is your nest box setup? Sometimes hens grow used to a setup and take a while to adjust to a new height, especially for nests and roosts.

 

[sjarvis00]

Thank you. Do you think it would help to get one or two fake eggs?

I am feeding them a mix of hen scratch and layer. Just the feed store brand.

I only have 5 nesting boxes all about a foot off the ground.

And how many nesting boxes do I need? Is there a ratio of 2 hens to a box or should i have 1 per hen? I ask because I have about 10 pullets that I am waiting to get bigger.

 

[ashley12]

I am having the same problem sjarvis00. I got my chickens about a week ago, and they are not laying. The guy I bought them off of had them in a small cage, just enough room to turn around. Although my coop and run are kinda small, it is like a mansion to them. The first night they slept on the floor, the second night on the lower roost. Now they roost on the highest one. My nesting boxes are also a foot off the ground. At first they didn't have anything to do with them, but now I can tell they at least get in them. I put a golf ball in one and they just push it out. Everyone I talk to just tells me to give them time, but I'm not a patient person.

 

[sjarvis00]

I am not patient either. I got my first egg about an hour ago! It was under the nesting boxes. I just boiled some eggs and marked them. waiting for them to cool then Im going to stick them in the nests and see if that helps. I will let you know.