Consistent laying in Sapphire Gems

[KylieDean]

Hello! First time chicken owner here. I have (6) sapphire gem girls that are 18 weeks old. On 6/30 one of my girls laid her first egg. On 7/4 she laid her second and has not laid an egg since. She does not seem sick or egg bound as she is currently living her best life in a dust bath. My question is, is it normal for a first time layer to not consistently lay? She does have layer feed and they free range for most do the day under supervision. I have checked the entire yard looking for eggs and there are not any out there and she does know to get in her laying box as she did this both times she’s laid an egg(all during her free range hours). Thanks in advance! Picture of my sweet Molly girl for attention.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

Do you provide an additional source of calcium? It doesn’t hurt to have it there. They’ll ignore it if they’re getting enough from their layer feed.

Also, what % protein is the feed? Pullets’ bodies are still maturing, and you might consider providing additional protein (ground beef, chopped boiled eggs, sardines, etc.)

I think of my now-laying pullets as teen mothers. They need lots of nutrition, and bagged commercial feed might not be enough, both calcium and protein.

Edit to add: the relatively low levels of protein (~16%) in layer feed is why many of us just keep them on chick feed (~18%) or on whole flock feed (~20% or more.)

If you choose to do this, you DEFINITELY need to provide calcium on the side. I use flaked oyster shell, as they didn’t seem to go for the more common chunk version. I also feed them back their shells.

Edit AGAIN: welcome to Backyard Chickens! We’re glad you’re here. Please keep us posted on your lovely girls!

 

[rosemarythyme]

Normal for a new layer to be inconsistent but I'd keep looking around the yard just in case there's a hidden nest in some tiny crevice.

 

[KylieDean]

Do you provide an additional source of calcium? It doesn’t hurt to have it there. They’ll ignore it if they’re getting enough from their layer feed.

Also, what % protein is the feed? Pullets’ bodies are still maturing, and you might consider providing additional protein (ground beef, chopped boiled eggs, sardines, etc.)

I think of my now-laying pullets as teen mothers. They need lots of nutrition, and bagged commercial feed might not be enough, both calcium and protein.

Edit to add: the relatively low levels of protein (~16%) in layer feed is why many of us just keep them on chick feed (~18%) or on whole flock feed (~20% or more.)

If you choose to do this, you DEFINITELY need to provide calcium on the side. I use flaked oyster shell, as they didn’t seem to go for the more common chunk version. I also feed them back their shells.

Edit AGAIN: welcome to Backyard Chickens! We’re glad you’re here. Please keep us posted on your lovely girls!

Thank you so much! They do have oyster shells but they are only on a 16% protein laying feed as that is what was recommend when I purchased it. He said it was better to have the lower protein because of how hot it is this summer. Our heat index is staying anywhere between 101-107 but they have tons of places to stay cool as well as a little pool with large rocks for them to stand on. I do plan on swapping over to a higher protein feed next time I go to the feed store and I’m currently keeping them in there run and letting them out for about 4 hours in the afternoon instead of free ranging all day that way if they have been laying in the yard they can kind of reset. Thanks so much for your help and advice!