Eggs...then no eggs?

[NuttHouse]

Hey y’all! So...I have 4 hens (I believe they are Cochins). I got them on April 1st. I was not expecting any eggs until October or November. On August 30 I was shocked yo find 7 eggs! I did the float est and only 3 were good to eat so I think some had been there for a few days. (I wasn’t checking because I wasn’t expecting eggs yet.) I have not had one single egg since!!! Are my hens duds?!? Has anyone ever had this happen? When should I expect them to start laying again?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Cochins are on and off layers. They probably won't lay much until next spring.

 

[aart]

Float test only tells you if the eggs are older, the air cell size increases as moisture evaporates thru the shell pores and the egg becomes more buoyant, it will not tell you if the egg is good or bad. When in doubt, open each egg separately in a dish before adding to pan or recipe, use your eyes and nose to tell if it's 'bad'.

Do you free range?
They may be laying out in range area.
Keeping fake egg in the nests can help keep them laying there.

 

[Callender Girl]

Early last week, I thought I found the first eggs laid by one of my Faverolles pullets. There were two small eggs nested alongside a duck egg in foliage. I later discovered four more eggs -- also not in a nest box. So I am now scouring the entire free-range area to make sure I'm not overlooking her production.

But since there were two eggs -- actually in the nest box yesterday!!! -- it appears her sister is also laying. However, I let them out later than usual yesterday and expect to resume egg-hunting today.

 

[NuttHouse]

Float test only tells you if the eggs are older, the air cell size increases as moisture evaporates thru the shell pores and the egg becomes more buoyant, it will not tell you if the egg is good or bad. When in doubt, open each egg separately in a dish before adding to pan or recipe, use your eyes and nose to tell if it's 'bad'.

Do you free range?
They may be laying out in range area.
Keeping fake egg in the nests can help keep them laying there.

Wow! And I threw the floaters out. Either way it still let me know that they were different ages though. They aren’t free range...in a good size yard, but I have looked everywhere there could be an egg and there simply aren’t. Boo!