Do they lay sporadically at first?

[I have WHAT in my yard?]

Or are they eating their eggs?

I got one egg, then nothing then another egg (which unfortunately went splat when I opened the coop) then nothing.

Is this a normal start up or should I be looking for my egg eater?

 

[MissPrissy]

It can take them a couple months before they lay consistantly on a predictable basis.

Pullets are immature when they begin laying. It is as these first eggs are developed and laid that the plumbing gets the kinks worked out. Over time the eggs come with regularity and the size increases.

 

[EllyMae]

Yes they are sporadic at first...will tend to drive you crazy if you aren't careful, lol!

 

[Rhett&SarahsMom]

the one layer we have so far has been giving us an egg pretty much daily for over a week now. But she still refuses to use the nesting boxes. It's kinda like Easter morning here daily, hunting for the egg in the coop.

I have to dig out my wooden eggs and see if that helps her get the "place for laying" down.

 

[digitS']

You need to do everything you can to get them to use the nest boxes. Egg eating often comes with laying eggs on the floor of the coop or out in the run.

My understanding is that we can expect as many as 40% of a pullet's first ova will be reabsorbed. This goes on for awhile.

As MissPrissy says, the kinks haven't been worked out of their plumbing !

Steve

 

[I have WHAT in my yard?]

Thank you all so much. I am baffled by some of the things they do!

One little beige egg... oh well its a start!

 

[cmom]

Quote:
I agree.