Chickens not laying and 24 week old

wendy2012

Chirping
Apr 20, 2020
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So my 24 week old cherry eggers still not laying. I got 4 and all are not in the mood i guess. Also our temperature has been getting colder this week in the 30s, don't know if that's effecting them. They are cherry eggers and got them from a hatchery. They have been healthy all this time. They eat well too, some organic pellets mixed with Dumor hen laying pellet food. Put some corn in there today since getting colder and read corn good for feathers. All except 1 have bright red combs but still no eggs. Can't wait for our large brown eggs.
 
Breeds lay at different ages. Most don’t start until around 30 weeks, 24 weeks is vey early. They are probably just not ready to lay yet, however You may not have enough daylight hours for Them to start, but hopefully, and most likely they will
 
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Waiting for that first egg is definitely a test of patience. My black sex link started laying last week, my lavender orpington has yet to start. They are the same age. My bantam cochin was first to lay and she is 2 weeks younger than them. My silkie bantam, same age as the cochin, laid her first one yesterday.
 
Waiting for that first egg is definitely a test of patience. My black sex link started laying last week, my lavender orpington has yet to start. They are the same age. My bantam cochin was first to lay and she is 2 weeks younger than them. My silkie bantam, same age as the cochin, laid her first one yesterday.
Yup. This week my girls are 22 weeks I believe. No eggs yet of course! But my Wyandotte looks seriously like she could lay any time, but Days are getting short,I don’t know if she will
 
Yup. This week my girls are 22 weeks I believe. No eggs yet of course! But my Wyandotte looks seriously like she could lay any time, but Days are getting short,I don’t know if she will

Yeah wondering if they will laying cause days are definitely getting shorter and its been getting colder. They are also done with molting. So i think their winter feathers are good. Hopefully soon.
 
Waiting for that first egg is definitely a test of patience. My black sex link started laying last week, my lavender orpington has yet to start. They are the same age. My bantam cochin was first to lay and she is 2 weeks younger than them. My silkie bantam, same age as the cochin, laid her first one yesterday.

What age are they?
 
Put some corn in there today since getting colder and read corn good for feathers. All except 1 have bright red combs but still no eggs. Can't wait for our large brown eggs.
Corn , by itself is as good for feathers as a candy bar is for a toddler.. don't believe everything you read. A calorie is a calorie is a calorie.

No, it not true that most birds don't lay until 30 weeks. It is true that genetics is always at play and they don't read our books about when we think they should do what. Most my early spring hatched Easter Eggers are laying by 17-24 weeks, never later. Birds hatched later and maturing in fall will lay later because daylight is diminishing.

Lay hormone is light related.. It takes at least 14 hours of light I think for 1 ovum to be releases into the reproductive track. Birds that lay later, will also lay larger egg right from the start in accordance with their body size. And they're hatched with all of the eggs they ever will lay already on board.

Now, for that whole corn thing.. Most our feeds are already made with corn as the main ingredient.. It has added mineral, vitamins, and important amino acids.. that scratch and plain corn by itself do not... making it a balanced ration. Corn by itself is about 7% protein, Adding corn to a balanced diet diminishes protein and other nutrients in most cases.. it should be used as a treat for enrichment at NO more than 10% total daily intake.

Corn does NOT keep birds warm.. it is ONE source of energy. The birds keep themselves warm via thermogenesis and their feathers for insulation.

Also feathers are made of 90% protein and their amino acids.. Corn again is JUNK.. by itself. Wan't better feathers increase amino acids and protein.

I recommend NOT diminishing your nutrients with corn or "layer" feed at this point.. and instead using a "grower", flock raiser, all flock, etc.. with oyster shell on the side.. until all your birds actively come into lay. I personally never switch and my birds molt softer now.

Birds that lay that late.. quickly find themselves not spreading their genetics here.

All details I attempt to share are meant in a friendly and informative manner. Sorry if it comes out harsher than that. :frow
 
Are they squatting when you go to pick them up? This is usually a really good sign but it can still be several weeks before they actually start laying. My 11 freeloaders are not laying yet either! 😬 Three of them have started squatting, so there is hope! My mature olive egger was laying briefly after molting then stopped when she went broody! I broke the cycle rather quickly but it’s been three weeks and still no eggs. May have to wait till spring I know there’s some breeds that do not lay through the winter.
We will all get eggs eventually though🥰
 
Corn , by itself is as good for feathers as a candy bar is for a toddler.. don't believe everything you read. A calorie is a calorie is a calorie.


No, it not true that most birds don't lay until 30 weeks. It is true that genetics is always at play and they don't read our books about when we think they should do what. Most my early spring hatched Easter Eggers are laying by 17-24 weeks, never later. Birds hatched later and maturing in fall will lay later because daylight is diminishing.

Lay hormone is light related.. It takes at least 14 hours of light I think for 1 ovum to be releases into the reproductive track. Birds that lay later, will also lay larger egg right from the start in accordance with their body size. And they're hatched with all of the eggs they ever will lay already on board.

Now, for that whole corn thing.. Most our feeds are already made with corn as the main ingredient.. It has added mineral, vitamins, and important amino acids.. that scratch and plain corn by itself do not... making it a balanced ration. Corn by itself is about 7% protein, Adding corn to a balanced diet diminishes protein and other nutrients in most cases.. it should be used as a treat for enrichment at NO more than 10% total daily intake.

Corn does NOT keep birds warm.. it is ONE source of energy. The birds keep themselves warm via thermogenesis and their feathers for insulation.

Also feathers are made of 90% protein and their amino acids.. Corn again is JUNK.. by itself. Wan't better feathers increase amino acids and protein.

I recommend NOT diminishing your nutrients with corn or "layer" feed at this point.. and instead using a "grower", flock raiser, all flock, etc.. with oyster shell on the side.. until all your birds actively come into lay. I personally never switch and my birds molt softer now.

Birds that lay that late.. quickly find themselves not spreading their genetics here.

All details I attempt to share are meant in a friendly and informative manner. Sorry if it comes out harsher than that. :frow
:goodpost:
 

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