Easter eggers not laying yet

[stretch02554]

I got five girls hatched April 29th last year and late in the fall one of them started laying for about three weeks. I know it was one because they were escaping from their coop all the time due to poor design. A couple weeks after full lock down their run is about 20x30 ft and they have a giant coop. I’m thinking they were late to mature and this spring will start laying - but when? After the first full moon after equinox? I know there is know way to really predict but I’m going to throw some golf balls in there to try and help - they are eating the layer pellet feed that I have fed to all my other chickens in the past and don’t appear to be molting - but what do I know I have only had Rhode Island Reds before ...help - my boyfriend is going to have not nice things to say after we built this coop and yard for them ...

 

[aart]

When the days get (even) longer...and/or when they are darn well and ready!

Sorry, it's really hard to say.
Do you have other birds that are laying?
EE's can be sporadic layers.

How big is "a giant coop" in feet by feet?
Dimensions and pics(of coo, run and birds) would help.

What else are you feeding other than the layer feed?

Oh, and...... Welcome to BYC! @stretch02554
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!

 

[Ridgerunner]

Hi, welcome to the forum, glad you joined.

I'm guessing that you are probably in the northern hemisphere so spring is coming. If you stick around, and I hope you do, it is helpful to modify your profile to show your general location. Location very often is a factor in so many different things. Though I'm pretty sure northern hemisphere in your case but I hate to assume.

It is possible they are slow to mature. Some seem to wait until the weather warms up and days get longer to start. But yeah, I can see why you are ready for eggs. I've had some also hatched in March that did not start laying for nine months, which happened to be early December during the shortest days of the year. They broke all the rules, which just shows there are no real rules, they lay when they lay.

The most common reason chickens aren't laying when you think they should be is that they are molting. That's unlikely in your case but do you see a bunch of feathers floating around? They can molt at strange times.

Another very common reason is that they are hiding a nest from you. They can be really sneaky about that. I think you have then contained in the coop and run. People that free range them really run into problems with this. My first step would be a really good Easter egg hunt. I mean a good hunt, not just a walk through.

It's possible something could be eating the eggs. Most critters that eat eggs leave signs, egg shells or wet spots. It's possible your chickens could clean up the egg shells but mine generally don't. Many critters will eat eggs but the only ones i'm aware of in North America that typically take shells and all are snakes, canines, and humans.

It does not sound like a snake, even if they are already active wherever you are. I've had snakes eat eggs before. They typically eat a few (number depending on size of the snake and the eggs) and go away for a couple of days to digest them, then come back for more. So you should be getting some eggs, just not every day. Snakes can come any time, day or night. But it really doesn't sound like a snake.

Most canines like a fox or coyote would probably be more interested in your chickens than they would be eggs so probably not them. But does a dog have access? Sometimes a dog will eat eggs but not bother chickens.

I'll let you access the possibility that it is a human. That does not necessarily mean someone is stealing them, though that has happened. Does your boy friend play practical jokes? That's happened too.

So what can you do? If your coop is big enough you might leave them locked in there for a couple of days, see if any eggs show up. That would mean they are hiding a nest or you locked out something that was getting the eggs.

You can secretly mark a real egg or two and put them down there. If they disappear something is getting your eggs.

There are certain signs that a hen is laying or getting really ready to. Yo can look at the vent. If it is large, soft, and moist then she is laying or real close to. If it is tight and dry, she is not laying. The difference is apparent when you see it.

Many hens' combs and wattles turn bright red when they are ready to lay. If the comb and wattles are more yellow or light pink she is probably not that close to laying. This is not 100% reliable but it is a good indication. If you can post close-ups of their head showing combs and wattles we might be able to provide an educated guess.

You can check the width of the pelvic bones. The wider they are the more likely she is laying or getting ready to. Some experience with this helps.

You are in a common situation. It can be really frustrating, many of us have been there. Very often it's just that they are not laying. But that is the frustrating part, it's hard to be really sure. Good luck and once again

 

[stretch02554]

When the days get (even) longer...and/or when they are darn well and ready!

Sorry, it's really hard to say.
Do you have other birds that are laying?
EE's can be sporadic layers.

How big is "a giant coop" in feet by feet?
Dimensions and pics(of coo, run and birds) would help.

What else are you feeding other than the layer feed?

Oh, and...... Welcome to BYC! @stretch02554
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!
View attachment 2051347

 

[stretch02554]

I don’t know if I did that right with the whole picture I’m about as smart as a chicken. There is no evidence of any predators whatsoever, and the boyfriend is overseas so he isn’t eating them Rocky Balboa style in the yard. I live on an island we don’t have any natural predators besides rats. Which I know are in and out of there frequently but I don’t want to kill them so I just feed everyone more. The rats seem harmless sometimes they make the girls give a little a squack but I think overall everyone is pretty happy with the endless food arrangement. BUT because of the rats all they are getting is pellet food nothing else - I mean I don’t throw scraps out there and don’t want everyone coming to the party if you know what I mean!
The seem happy but I guess I’ll go take some more pictures of their combs etc for you all - I can be patient and I don’t need but a couple eggs a week - mostly I just like their company. As long as I know they will most likely eventually start laying I’m fine with it. Also wanted to mention that the eggshells were almost triple the thickness of supermarket eggs - maybe normal for the Easter Eggers but maybe not - appreciate all the help!!!

 

[Ridgerunner]

You are more tolerant of rats than I am. In some ways to each their own but it is possible they are eating eggs and the hens are cleaning up the shells. But I doubt it because of the thickness of the egg shells. The thickness of egg shells has nothing to do with them being EE's. It means they are eating a lot of calcium. Since they are getting a lot of calcium they don't need to eat egg shells to get more. They are getting some calcium from the Layer feed you are giving them but that's just enough to get the thickness of the store eggs. Being on an island I wonder if you have a lot of broken shells laying around for them to eat? Sometimes, if your native rock is limestone, they can get a lot of calcium from that.

 

[aart]

I live on an island we don’t have any natural predators besides rats.

....and probably birds of prey.

Which I know are in and out of there frequently but I don’t want to kill them so I just feed everyone more.

Yikes!..could be the rats are eating the eggs.

I’ll go take some more pictures of their combs etc

That can tell the tale....along with these other tips:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/who-is-laying-and-who-is-not-butt-check.73309/

 

[Trish of the Coop]

I got five girls hatched April 29th last year and late in the fall one of them started laying for about three weeks. I know it was one because they were escaping from their coop all the time due to poor design. A couple weeks after full lock down their run is about 20x30 ft and they have a giant coop. I’m thinking they were late to mature and this spring will start laying - but when? After the first full moon after equinox? I know there is know way to really predict but I’m going to throw some golf balls in there to try and help - they are eating the layer pellet feed that I have fed to all my other chickens in the past and don’t appear to be molting - but what do I know I have only had Rhode Island Reds before ...help - my boyfriend is going to have not nice things to say after we built this coop and yard for them ...

I am no expert by any means at all, but we are just starting spring here as well and of my 3 girls I have only 1 that is laying an egg every couple days. She laid 2 then stopped for over 1 wk and has recently started laying every 2. She is an Ameraucana. My EE and black sex link have not started yet.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Which I know are in and out of there frequently but I don’t want to kill them so I just feed everyone more. The rats seem harmless sometimes they make the girls give a little a squack but I think overall everyone is pretty happy with the endless food arrangement.

Rats are "harmless" until they're not - they can chew on chicken feet while birds are roosting, kill chicks, carry in disease and parasites, and damage the coop.

Do you leave food out all the time or do you take it in or cover it at night?

 

[stretch02554]

I hate the rats don’t get me wrong - but what is little frail me going to do with a rat once I catch it - please tell me they terrify me.
The prey birds can’t get into the chicken area or the chickens would be long gone - here are some more pictures.
The run isn’t as big as I imagined in my head, but still quite large. I am pretty sure a shelter in place order is imminent for my community here so the girls better kick it up a notch and contribute some eggs!