First Egg Countdown

[JesNflock]

ETA - sorry - this was a duplicate post for some reason!

I don't know...It's hard to tell my girl didn't start laying until she was about 24 weeks old. (I was almost convinced that she would wait til spring because of less light, but I was pleasantly surprised!) So, they may wait til springtime...or not. Some people use light in their coop (I have not used any light so far)

 

[Jewelwing]

I don't know...It's hard to tell my girl didn't start laying until she was about 24 weeks old. (I was almost convinced that she would wait til spring because of less light, but I was pleasantly surprised!) So, they may wait til springtime...or not. Some people use light in their coop (I have not used any light so far)

No electricity to the coop, and too far for an extension cord. So no light! Or heat. But I got what I thought were cold-hardy breeds, and they seem to be doing fine - it even got down to 4'F last night. Brrrr.

I'm hoping they don't wait until spring....

 

[JesNflock]

No electricity to the coop, and too far for an extension cord. So no light! Or heat. But I got what I thought were cold-hardy breeds, and they seem to be doing fine - it even got down to 4'F last night. Brrrr.

I'm hoping they don't wait until spring....

A lot of people don't heat their coops and their birds do fine from what I understand. The waiting is hard, I know. Hopefully they will begin laying for you soon!

 

[mithious]

A lot of people don't heat their coops and their birds do fine from what I understand. The waiting is hard, I know. Hopefully they will begin laying for you soon!

Mine don't have heat. Last night was -18 F. They started laying wayyy late, at 31 weeks, day before Thanksgiving I got my first egg. We are up to 3-4 a day now and the size is gradually getting bigger. I found that when I give them some kind of protein, they lay more the next day...they are on a layer pellet, and won't go outside any more, so I also give them some scratch, in the afternoon, do give them something to do and get the bedding turned.

I thought they were going to wait for longer days also, but the wait was worth it, albeit a little worrying.

I have 15, 14 pullets and one cockerel. They were sold as hatchery BR's. Funny looking for BR's but very cold hardy!!!

ETA I also give them warm water, through out the day and on really cold night, some pellets, made into a warm mash in the am. They seem to like that and are more settled.

 

[JesNflock]

Mine don't have heat. Last night was -18 F. They started laying wayyy late, at 31 weeks, day before Thanksgiving I got my first egg. We are up to 3-4 a day now and the size is gradually getting bigger. I found that when I give them some kind of protein, they lay more the next day...they are on a layer pellet, and won't go outside any more, so I also give them some scratch, in the afternoon, do give them something to do and get the bedding turned.

I thought they were going to wait for longer days also, but the wait was worth it, albeit a little worrying.

I have 15, 14 pullets and one cockerel. They were sold as hatchery BR's. Funny looking for BR's but very cold hardy!!!

ETA I also give them warm water, through out the day and on really cold night, some pellets, made into a warm mash in the am. They seem to like that and are more settled.

WoW! That's COLD! lol I wouldn't want to go outside either lol Do you do deep litter method in your coop? I have one BR(who is turning out to be a Roo lol) I let mine free range most of the day. I also started doing FF for all of my ladies (and gents). I give free choice oyster shell and a small mealworm treat everyday. I had three girls laying but two of them stopped(they were new so I expected that) I'm hoping they get settled in and begin laying again soon. My BSL has been steady giving me eggs everyday, skipping only once every 6 or 7 days.So my egg count is 1 a day. lol I was dying of impatience waiting for her to lay lol Most of my other girls are way to young and should start laying in the spring so will be doing the waiting game again

 

[Jewelwing]

Mine don't have heat. Last night was -18 F. They started laying wayyy late, at 31 weeks, day before Thanksgiving I got my first egg. We are up to 3-4 a day now and the size is gradually getting bigger. I found that when I give them some kind of protein, they lay more the next day...they are on a layer pellet, and won't go outside any more, so I also give them some scratch, in the afternoon, do give them something to do and get the bedding turned.

I thought they were going to wait for longer days also, but the wait was worth it, albeit a little worrying.

I have 15, 14 pullets and one cockerel. They were sold as hatchery BR's. Funny looking for BR's but very cold hardy!!!

ETA I also give them warm water, through out the day and on really cold night, some pellets, made into a warm mash in the am. They seem to like that and are more settled.

Wow, I guess I have to stop complaining about how cold it is here! I give mine warm water throughout the day, too, and they always come right over and start drinking, so I don't think they're eating snow like I've heard chickens do. I've been feeding them fermented food, but it seems to freeze too fast for them to get much of it, so I just started mixing enough dry food into the ff to make it crumbly. That way when it freezes, at least it's in small enough chunks they can still eat it. That seems to be working.

They also get kitchen scraps, so they do get protein fairly frequently (much to my dog's dismay - I think she wishes she were a chicken!). And I toss scratch in their coop (deep litter pine shavings) to keep them occupied.

First egg day before Thanksgiving is cool! I was hoping for a Thanksgiving egg, but no luck. Maybe before 2014!

 

[JesNflock]

Wow, I guess I have to stop complaining about how cold it is here! I give mine warm water throughout the day, too, and they always come right over and start drinking, so I don't think they're eating snow like I've heard chickens do. I've been feeding them fermented food, but it seems to freeze too fast for them to get much of it, so I just started mixing enough dry food into the ff to make it crumbly. That way when it freezes, at least it's in small enough chunks they can still eat it. That seems to be working.

They also get kitchen scraps, so they do get protein fairly frequently (much to my dog's dismay - I think she wishes she were a chicken!). And I toss scratch in their coop (deep litter pine shavings) to keep them occupied.

First egg day before Thanksgiving is cool! I was hoping for a Thanksgiving egg, but no luck. Maybe before 2014!

Maybe they'll be nice and give you some pretty eggs for Christmas!

 

[LisaLouHoo]

OK, I forgot to say that I have one fake egg in each of the three nest boxes.  I have them on organic grower feed, and I put out crushed egg shells and oyster shell for them to eat as they need.  Someone is eating it, because I keep having to put out more egg & oyster shell!

So you think they're soon?

Sounds like you're doing everything right as you wait this out. Their combs look red to me and their age is when my chickens all started laying. Maybe the only difference is this time of year being cold and short days may delay, but I would guess it's going to be within a month. Good luck. Those are fine looking chicks.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Chaos - You have several that look close to starting up: one of the Australorps, one of your brahmas. The Speckled Sussex and the Faverolles aren't too far behind.

 

[Happy Chooks]

No light and no heat here. Yesterday I finally got a first egg from one of the barnevelders - just a couple of weeks short of 9 months old.