Egg number 2 today! This time she used the nest box. Whoot whoot! I didn't even have to put a ball in the nest box. Which ever girl it was, she's a smart girl. I believe only one is laying because they are the same exact color.
First Egg Countdown
- Thread starter Pele
- Start date
Hi All,
Well, I am excited to report that I got eggs# 3 and #4 today. Two of my four girls (Ginger and Mo) are both laying now. What was most exciting was that Mo went into the nest and layed for the first time while I was standing right next to the coop. I was so excited to see her go in there that I didn't want to move for fear of startling her out. I sat down and waited patiently for over 30 minutes. Am I crazy? Two of the other girls who aren't laying eggs laid down outside the coop and waited quietly too. It was almost like they all knew she was laying for her first time. Anyway, Ginger, who had laid two eggs already this week, was less patient. She likes the same nest box and went up twice to check on Mo while she was in there. The second time, Mo came out with her beak open wide like she was pooped. I checked and sure enough, there was a beautiful brown egg. At that point Ginger took her place in the nest. Close to an hour later, she came out having laid her third egg. I was tickled pink!
Does it always take so long for them to lay an egg or do they get faster over time?
Anyway, a pretty exciting day for this new chicken owner. I think my family is going to ship me to the funny farm soon. Think there will be chickens there?
Well, I am excited to report that I got eggs# 3 and #4 today. Two of my four girls (Ginger and Mo) are both laying now. What was most exciting was that Mo went into the nest and layed for the first time while I was standing right next to the coop. I was so excited to see her go in there that I didn't want to move for fear of startling her out. I sat down and waited patiently for over 30 minutes. Am I crazy? Two of the other girls who aren't laying eggs laid down outside the coop and waited quietly too. It was almost like they all knew she was laying for her first time. Anyway, Ginger, who had laid two eggs already this week, was less patient. She likes the same nest box and went up twice to check on Mo while she was in there. The second time, Mo came out with her beak open wide like she was pooped. I checked and sure enough, there was a beautiful brown egg. At that point Ginger took her place in the nest. Close to an hour later, she came out having laid her third egg. I was tickled pink!
Does it always take so long for them to lay an egg or do they get faster over time?
Anyway, a pretty exciting day for this new chicken owner. I think my family is going to ship me to the funny farm soon. Think there will be chickens there?
Congratulations on your 2 eggs. I was so excited to see the second one today. I can't wait for this weekend so I can be on egg watch. Call ME crazy. Haha.
Not crazy at all. I still enjoy watching them.
Some take longer than others. Some really like to nest for a while, others are in and out.
Some take longer than others. Some really like to nest for a while, others are in and out.
Week 26. Bright red faces. Poofy bums. FINALLY OVER AVIAN POX! (im celebrating every time i go outside and see ONE less scabby bird-39 to go!) Rosie's pubic bone is about a finger and a half width now, Alice is more like 3/4 of a finger (she knows shes pretty enough to never have to lay an egg 
)
The littles are 16 and 15 weeks now (where did the time go? Wasnt i cleaning pasty butt yesterday?) I am excitedly waiting to see who will fill out first!
Also-somewhat related to first eggs...i have a crossbeak EE who has been a runt since day one. At 15 weeks old, she still peeps. She is noticeably smaller than two of my EEs, but on par with the Wyandotte and one EE her age. For those of you with stunted chickens, did you ever get that first egg? (I am convinced she will lay a blue egg because she is just that awesome).
)The littles are 16 and 15 weeks now (where did the time go? Wasnt i cleaning pasty butt yesterday?) I am excitedly waiting to see who will fill out first!
Also-somewhat related to first eggs...i have a crossbeak EE who has been a runt since day one. At 15 weeks old, she still peeps. She is noticeably smaller than two of my EEs, but on par with the Wyandotte and one EE her age. For those of you with stunted chickens, did you ever get that first egg? (I am convinced she will lay a blue egg because she is just that awesome).
- Apr 14, 2013
- 23
- 1
- 24
Six months and six days........................and I have my first egg
I am guessing that it may not be the first egg one of them laid but it's the first one that I have found! When I let them out of their coop they are free range. I have looked and looked and have not found a nest or eggs outside the coop. I decided enough was enough and I did not let them out Wednesday morning. That afternoon I found the first egg. It was of course laid under the nesting boxes and broken by the time I found it. I left them in there again yesterday and when I went to check on them in the afternoon my blue cochin was all in a tizzy squatting in the corner then running around looking for somewhere else to squat. I came back later and she had produced my first edible egg
Now my question. How do I encourage or train them to lay in the nesting boxes? It is a 4 over 4 metal box that the previous owner left abandoned on our farm. It has bars with wooden slats that you can push up to block access to the boxes or put down as a perch to get into the boxes. I have 9 hens so I only have the bottom layer of boxes open. Shavings are in there with a golf ball in each because someone told me that will help them learn that is their nest. It's currently mounted on the wall of the coop maybe one foot off the floor. My plan was to leave them in the coop until they are laying consistently in the boxes. I can tell someone has been in the boxes. There are a few fluffy feathers in each box and the shavings are always a bit messed up. Their coop is an old corn crib so it's huge with plenty of room when they are stuck inside but I would like to get them back out and happily roaming again.
I am guessing that it may not be the first egg one of them laid but it's the first one that I have found! When I let them out of their coop they are free range. I have looked and looked and have not found a nest or eggs outside the coop. I decided enough was enough and I did not let them out Wednesday morning. That afternoon I found the first egg. It was of course laid under the nesting boxes and broken by the time I found it. I left them in there again yesterday and when I went to check on them in the afternoon my blue cochin was all in a tizzy squatting in the corner then running around looking for somewhere else to squat. I came back later and she had produced my first edible egg
Now my question. How do I encourage or train them to lay in the nesting boxes? It is a 4 over 4 metal box that the previous owner left abandoned on our farm. It has bars with wooden slats that you can push up to block access to the boxes or put down as a perch to get into the boxes. I have 9 hens so I only have the bottom layer of boxes open. Shavings are in there with a golf ball in each because someone told me that will help them learn that is their nest. It's currently mounted on the wall of the coop maybe one foot off the floor. My plan was to leave them in the coop until they are laying consistently in the boxes. I can tell someone has been in the boxes. There are a few fluffy feathers in each box and the shavings are always a bit messed up. Their coop is an old corn crib so it's huge with plenty of room when they are stuck inside but I would like to get them back out and happily roaming again.
Hi all, I posted this in another thread, but this thread seems more appropriate...
I have 14, 29 week old pullets and one cockerel. Mr Roo has YET to crow, and the pullets, although being bright red faced, for almost two months now, and singing the egg song, no eggs still...they HAD been squatting for Mr Roo...but have stopped. I know that with the day light being shorter, chickens will slow down or stop laying. That saying, these are Barred Rocks, and USUALLY lay between 18 and 22 weeks...I thought for sure they would lay before now, as they have had all the signs of laying, for so long but nope, nada...
They are happy, healthy chickens, on layer feed, scratch near sunset for added warmth, clean water 3 times a day and a 200 square foot run. Their coop is 8' by 8' with 6 nest boxes, 3 roosts, two windows for plenty of natural light. I don't have electricity run to the coop, what with all the other building and such we are doing for the coming heritage birds in the spring, so that will have to wait till nest spring. The coop is double walled and shingled also and well ventilated but they are about 15 degrees above the outside temps and their bedding is nice and deep with layers of straw, inbetween shavings. What am I missing????
I do keep them in the coop, when there is snow on the ground in their run...they won't go out in the snow anyway...they are spoiled chickens LOL
I get up at dawn and bring them warm water, as we are in northern NH, then take the water container in at night so it doesn't freeze. I have a rubber tub for when it gets really cold, for their water, so I can dump out the ice as needed.
I tried putting rocks, that were egg size, in their nest boxes and they do go in the nesting boxes, as they keep throwing out the straw and shavings in them...
Am I going to have to wait till spring for eggs????? I was hoping to sell some eggs to offset the feed costs....hard to do with no eggs!!!
They are a great flock, quiet, happy, a bit messy with their bedding, especially with the scratch being added...even Mr. Roo is a very nice cockerel and nice to the girls...I give them a few apples once a week...helps with their digestion and gives them something to do, when there is snow outside...works way better than the cider vinegar...They are doing great with the frigid temps and don't seem stressed at all about it....I don't know what else to do????
I know some breeds and heritage birds lay later, but these are hatchery chickens, raised from chicks last May by me....
It's frustrating when they are showing all the signs, for months, and no eggs...I would jump for joy if I found just a peanut egg...every time I hear them sing the egg song I run to the coop..but nada...
Any other experiences with late laying chickens would be greatly appreciated or any other advice, ideas ect!!! Thank!
I have 14, 29 week old pullets and one cockerel. Mr Roo has YET to crow, and the pullets, although being bright red faced, for almost two months now, and singing the egg song, no eggs still...they HAD been squatting for Mr Roo...but have stopped. I know that with the day light being shorter, chickens will slow down or stop laying. That saying, these are Barred Rocks, and USUALLY lay between 18 and 22 weeks...I thought for sure they would lay before now, as they have had all the signs of laying, for so long but nope, nada...
They are happy, healthy chickens, on layer feed, scratch near sunset for added warmth, clean water 3 times a day and a 200 square foot run. Their coop is 8' by 8' with 6 nest boxes, 3 roosts, two windows for plenty of natural light. I don't have electricity run to the coop, what with all the other building and such we are doing for the coming heritage birds in the spring, so that will have to wait till nest spring. The coop is double walled and shingled also and well ventilated but they are about 15 degrees above the outside temps and their bedding is nice and deep with layers of straw, inbetween shavings. What am I missing????
I do keep them in the coop, when there is snow on the ground in their run...they won't go out in the snow anyway...they are spoiled chickens LOL
I get up at dawn and bring them warm water, as we are in northern NH, then take the water container in at night so it doesn't freeze. I have a rubber tub for when it gets really cold, for their water, so I can dump out the ice as needed.
I tried putting rocks, that were egg size, in their nest boxes and they do go in the nesting boxes, as they keep throwing out the straw and shavings in them...
Am I going to have to wait till spring for eggs????? I was hoping to sell some eggs to offset the feed costs....hard to do with no eggs!!!
They are a great flock, quiet, happy, a bit messy with their bedding, especially with the scratch being added...even Mr. Roo is a very nice cockerel and nice to the girls...I give them a few apples once a week...helps with their digestion and gives them something to do, when there is snow outside...works way better than the cider vinegar...They are doing great with the frigid temps and don't seem stressed at all about it....I don't know what else to do????
I know some breeds and heritage birds lay later, but these are hatchery chickens, raised from chicks last May by me....
It's frustrating when they are showing all the signs, for months, and no eggs...I would jump for joy if I found just a peanut egg...every time I hear them sing the egg song I run to the coop..but nada...
Any other experiences with late laying chickens would be greatly appreciated or any other advice, ideas ect!!! Thank!
Last edited:
Try posting pictures of your birds on the thread- a close up of the faces in particular seems to help.
I also have some birds who I believe are a similar age to yours- who do not lay yet- and believe me, I sympathize, the wait is certainly a long one! (Still going on!)
I've been posting pictures of them on this thread for a while, and I have found everyone on this thread very helpful because they can point out to me details that did not occur to me.
It's true we're under 10 hours of light per day now- that seems to be the magic number, but I've read lots of posts about hens laying their first egg at Christmas- so it could still happen.
Sounds like you will have eggs soon.Week 26. Bright red faces. Poofy bums. FINALLY OVER AVIAN POX! (im celebrating every time i go outside and see ONE less scabby bird-39 to go!) Rosie's pubic bone is about a finger and a half width now, Alice is more like 3/4 of a finger (she knows shes pretty enough to never have to lay an egg)
The littles are 16 and 15 weeks now (where did the time go? Wasnt i cleaning pasty butt yesterday?) I am excitedly waiting to see who will fill out first!
Also-somewhat related to first eggs...i have a crossbeak EE who has been a runt since day one. At 15 weeks old, she still peeps. She is noticeably smaller than two of my EEs, but on par with the Wyandotte and one EE her age. For those of you with stunted chickens, did you ever get that first egg? (I am convinced she will lay a blue egg because she is just that awesome).
I'm still waiting on my 33 week old barnevelder pullets.
Congrats! Keep them locked up for a week to retrain them. You can open up all of the boxes, they will choose the ones they want to lay in. Just make sure the roosts are higher than the nesting boxes or they will try to sleep in them.Six months and six days........................and I have my first egg
I am guessing that it may not be the first egg one of them laid but it's the first one that I have found! When I let them out of their coop they are free range. I have looked and looked and have not found a nest or eggs outside the coop. I decided enough was enough and I did not let them out Wednesday morning. That afternoon I found the first egg. It was of course laid under the nesting boxes and broken by the time I found it. I left them in there again yesterday and when I went to check on them in the afternoon my blue cochin was all in a tizzy squatting in the corner then running around looking for somewhere else to squat. I came back later and she had produced my first edible egg
Now my question. How do I encourage or train them to lay in the nesting boxes? It is a 4 over 4 metal box that the previous owner left abandoned on our farm. It has bars with wooden slats that you can push up to block access to the boxes or put down as a perch to get into the boxes. I have 9 hens so I only have the bottom layer of boxes open. Shavings are in there with a golf ball in each because someone told me that will help them learn that is their nest. It's currently mounted on the wall of the coop maybe one foot off the floor. My plan was to leave them in the coop until they are laying consistently in the boxes. I can tell someone has been in the boxes. There are a few fluffy feathers in each box and the shavings are always a bit messed up. Their coop is an old corn crib so it's huge with plenty of room when they are stuck inside but I would like to get them back out and happily roaming again.
Is there anywhere they could be hiding them?
How does their weight look? Do they look thin? Have you checked them over for lice/mites?
Change will freak them out, and can cause them to not lay - I'd open their access to the run every day. Even if it's snowy and they don't go out, they still have the ability to.
Make sure you are not overdoing it with treats. Give higher protein treats instead, like meat scraps or mealworms. If they are not getting enough protein, this will help.
You will not have to wait until spring - you should have eggs any time now.
Is there anywhere they could be hiding them?
Nope...I haven't let them free range, they have their coop and run and I have checked every inch, looking even for shell chips, incase they were eating them.
How does their weight look? Do they look thin? Have you checked them over for lice/mites?
Weight is spot on...used a fish scale to weigh a few...no lice or mites...cleaned coop twice before the cold hit and deep cleaned and checked birds..no sign of any bugs
Change will freak them out, and can cause them to not lay - I'd open their access to the run every day. Even if it's snowy and they don't go out, they still have the ability to.
I do leave the pop door open, just incase they want out, but they don't go out in the snow, they see it, and turn right around and go back in the coop and I read that it helps with ventilation, although, so far, the top vents have been working fine. They don't act stressed at all...
Make sure you are not overdoing it with treats. Give higher protein treats instead, like meat scraps or mealworms. If they are not getting enough protein, this will help.
I have been giving them mealworms occasionally, and had been adding "all flock" to their layer feed, until it ran out about a week or so ago, which is a higher protein, that was left over from switching them to the layer...I buy in bulk, so needed to have them eat up the rest of what was left. I don't give "treats" often, but I do give them a couple cups of scratch, late afternoon, to help keep them warm at night and stir up the bedding...I use the apples, whole, for their digestive system and to give them something different to "play" with, once a week....only 3 though and locally grown...that's it for other than their feed.
Thanks so much for the ideas though...sooo appreciate them!!!! Gosh I hope you are right and I won't have to wait till spring!!!!
You will not have to wait until spring - you should have eggs any time now.
I'll try to dig up a picture or so...I'm not great at pictures and they are my cell phone pic's, so not so great, but maybe enough to get an idea????
Thanks again!!!
Nope...I haven't let them free range, they have their coop and run and I have checked every inch, looking even for shell chips, incase they were eating them.
How does their weight look? Do they look thin? Have you checked them over for lice/mites?
Weight is spot on...used a fish scale to weigh a few...no lice or mites...cleaned coop twice before the cold hit and deep cleaned and checked birds..no sign of any bugs
Change will freak them out, and can cause them to not lay - I'd open their access to the run every day. Even if it's snowy and they don't go out, they still have the ability to.
I do leave the pop door open, just incase they want out, but they don't go out in the snow, they see it, and turn right around and go back in the coop and I read that it helps with ventilation, although, so far, the top vents have been working fine. They don't act stressed at all...
Make sure you are not overdoing it with treats. Give higher protein treats instead, like meat scraps or mealworms. If they are not getting enough protein, this will help.
I have been giving them mealworms occasionally, and had been adding "all flock" to their layer feed, until it ran out about a week or so ago, which is a higher protein, that was left over from switching them to the layer...I buy in bulk, so needed to have them eat up the rest of what was left. I don't give "treats" often, but I do give them a couple cups of scratch, late afternoon, to help keep them warm at night and stir up the bedding...I use the apples, whole, for their digestive system and to give them something different to "play" with, once a week....only 3 though and locally grown...that's it for other than their feed.
Thanks so much for the ideas though...sooo appreciate them!!!! Gosh I hope you are right and I won't have to wait till spring!!!!
You will not have to wait until spring - you should have eggs any time now.
I'll try to dig up a picture or so...I'm not great at pictures and they are my cell phone pic's, so not so great, but maybe enough to get an idea????
Thanks again!!!
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