Egg laying question. I know I know been asked a million times

[Nonny]

It's like girls starting menstruation... there is a general age range between which you can reasonably expect them to start, but it's all down to the individual and you simply can't predict the exact time. With chickens it's anywhere from around 18 weeks up to 30 weeks and sometimes beyond. It's rare for a chicken to NEVER start laying, so you can rest assured that if they're in good health they will start when Mother Nature deems them ready.

 

[ozwee]

I have three girls that should all be laying, one of the girls layed everyday for the first week that I got her but now nothing... its making me crazy , im very new to this game, my girls love to play and drink mud so after reading this web site im thinking this could be my problem?????? Iv now removed all water except there drinking water...
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[Yonaton]

I personally never understood the need to see ones hens 'hurry-up-and-lay!' thing. When a woman gets pregnant, no one goes around telling her to hurry up, do they? Patience is a virtue.

 

[Nonny]

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Sadly, they do. But don't even get me started on THAT topic LOL

 

[debid]

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Have you ever known a woman who was 42 weeks pregnant? Trust me, even she is begging that kid to hurry up, already. It's the same thing for those of us waiting on some of our pullets that are well past the age we expected them to start laying.

 

[Rileysixchix]

Have you tried putting things that resemble eggs in the egg boxes? Things like golf balls or ping pong balls helped my girls realize where to put their eggs , It might help yours with figuring out, "Oh! I should be laying things like that!" Also the same things everyone keeps saying, it'll come just gotta wait! and also check in weird spots! i found my first one in the corner if the run!

Good Luck

 

[Nic&Chickies]

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and

I don't get anywhere near ten eggs per day from my 10 girls (3, 4, maybe five if we're lucky), but have learned not to sweat it. My banties (one of 'em, I think) laid a few eggs, then stopped. I just figured they/she stopped for the winter, early. There's always an excuse from these freeloaders

--excuse me, a reason for my pets to not lay at any given time. This is not a business venture for me, so I don't have to concentrate on the numbers (even tho' I still do, to a degree).
There are other things going on in my life if I want to be stressed out about something; life with chickens is something to relax me. Try not to let it make you too crazy!

 

[gryeyes]

Brahmas are notoriously slow in maturing.

With that said, I am another one of those folks who didn't anxiously await the first eggs from my flock. They'll lay when they are ready to lay. I originally got my chickens for free garden fertilizer and bug reduction in the yard. Eggs were - and are - a bonus! Lovely little gifts granted because they are healthy and they laid whenever they were ready to lay.

Yes, the first egg was FANTASTIC! Woo hoo! And as each pullet began to lay, it was equally fantastic. I love gathering eggs. I just don't worry when any particular hens will start.

Y'see, that was I was never disappointed but always thrilled.