Erratic egg-laying?? Help!

[Shaela]

So I have 5 pullets, and three are ready to lay any day (two RIR and a white leghorn). A week ago we got our first egg - yay! A little brown one, so I know it was from one of the RIR. But... that was it. It's been 6 days and there has been NOTHING else. Is this normal? My kids and I have scoured the yard but there's no evidence of eggs anywhere else, and the first one was in the nest box (and I know they're going in there and checking it out, cuz they're covered in little downy feathers.)

Any tips? Insights? It's been 100ish degrees everyday but they have water all over the yard that we exchange for fresh water regularly, and they're getting layer feed as of last week. Does it just take awhile to figure out? I thought once they started it might be a few days in between, but a week seems kinda long.

 

[Shaela]

anyone? I'm just looking for some reassurance. I don't mind that we're not getting more eggs, just worried that it might be something I am doing or not doing. I just want my hens to be happy and healthy!

 

[papajoe]

Be patient, we got our two hens and it was 5 weeks before the first egg showed up. Now they're in the mode of maybe I'll lay one, maybe I won't today, I just quit worrying about it, I think they make their own schedule.

 

[junebuggena]

It can take several weeks for everything to start working on a regular basis. In the mean time, egg laying will be very random. They might lay several 'wind' eggs in a day. Eggs without shells, double yolkers, and only laying one or two a week are all very common in young layers.

 

[aart]

New layers can be quite goofy acting, they don't know what they are doing at first and can be confused and anxious, it can take up to a month or so before they get it all figured out. Putting some fake eggs or golf balls in the nest might help show them where to lay. They may scratch around in the nests for weeks before laying. Meanwhile, eggs everywhere, some of them can be rather funky looking, soft or thin shelled, huge double yolked eggs.

I'd suggest you keep them cooped if it wasn't so hot...unless maybe it's cooler in the coop?

Free range birds sometimes need to be 'trained'(or re-trained) to lay in the coop nests, especially new layers. Leaving them locked in the coop for 2-3 days can help 'home' them to lay in the coop nests. They can be confined to coop 24/7 for a few days to a week, or confine them at least until mid to late afternoon. You help them create a new habit and they will usually stick with it.

 

[Shaela]

thanks everyone! I am just going to be patient for now. Our white leghorn started laying 3 days ago and has laid every day (all in the nest boxes, which have fake eggs in them), but still no more brown eggs from the RIRs. We're going to start keeping all the hens them in the coop/run until midday instead of letting them range all day and see if that helps at all.