Eggs

[1st time]

I have 4 longhorns which were hatched about may 1st, 2 orpingtons about 2 weeks older and 2 partridge rocks that are about 4 weeks older. I have started them on a layer food and i guess i am overly antious about getting eggs. This is my 1st time so i dont know if its too early or if i need to provide them with certain food etc. I built 8 nests and a new roost a few weeks ago in their coop. They are let out of their coop each morning between 6am and 7am and the go back in their coop about 8pm (currently). There is ackers of land behind us that the roam every day but have not gotten too far into the woods plus I have a natural spring just outside of their coop. I put 2 hanging feeders out for them when i let them out and take it up when i close their coop door. So they roam all day and eat what they want. Can anyone tell me if i need to do anything specific or if i just need to settle down and give them more time to start laying eggs.

 

[sourland]

I am pretty sure that you have leghorns rather than longhorns. Your older birds are right on the edge of starting to lay. Be patient you will get eggs soon. Sounds as if you are doing all the right things.

 

[1st time]

Yes leghorns I forget my phn likes to auto correct and I forget to check before I submit. My daughter has named most of them and she enjoys them talks to them etc. I am trying to be patient but also getting excited to see the first one.

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[1st time]

This is my daughter and she has named this rock sassy

 

[Jesusfreak101]

Hang in there my have just started laying, i have two that are laying out of four they take forever it seems to start. But i have gotten a total of nine eggs in about a week or a week and two days of time. It happen watch for the waddles once mine got those it was one a day or two until they started laying. We have four mature leghorns and several other breeds)

 

[1st time]

I made their nests from milk crates. I hope they will like them. I put pine tags in them. It is 6 on the top row and 2 on the bottom. It's hard to see the black ones. Has anyone else used milk crates?

 

[Jesusfreak101]

No but mine lay in the coop not in the hen boxes they like the boxes to sleep in just not nest in.

 

[1st time]

I have attempted several times to submit a pic of them but will not load. Mine of course sleep in their coop. We maDE a pen from a 50 foot x 6 feet roll of chicken wire but the gate stays open all day from 6am to about 8pm. I have azaleas that are about 8 to 9 feet tall and they love to lay under them. it is right near a natural spring that is in my back yard.

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[1st time]

This is the family.

 

[1st time]

They all have grown up together. It's so funny to watch them in the mornings or at any time. The chickens follow the ducks. If they realize the ducks have walked away too far the will run it catch up with them.