First Egg Countdown

[Utard]

Still no eggs! 23 weeks (hatched July 15th). My husband has been having "talks" with the ladies, to no avail. At least two of them have been squatting for a couple weeks, and many of them poke their heads in the nest boxes, but nothing more. Sigh.

One of my Welsummers squats every time I get near, before I can even reach down to pet her!

First we were hoping for Thanksgiving, then Christmas. Maybe we'll get an egg before 2014? Maybe they're waiting for my birthday at the end of Feb!

Happy Holidays, everyone!

Sounds like you better start looking around for eggs? They might be hiding them on you? Mine were hatched on about June 10th. As of yesterday I have gotten about 240 eggs from 7 birds. The first one started Oct. 23rd and by Dec 1st all 7 were laying. Not sure how big your area is for them but if there is any bush, tree branches or anything they could hide in and lay eggs check it out. Plus are you giving them any extra light? I have a small bulb in the coop that I set up on a timer to give them as much light as there is on the longest day of the year. This will help with egg production. With the 7 birds I get 6 eggs every day. With the off time at least 1/2 an hour after sunset. I did that because at first they would stay out until dark and then did not know to go in the coop or couldn't because it was too dark. So after a few nights of rounding them up and shoving them in the coop after dark I put the light in.

 

[babowman3]

Thank you @LynnBEC I love my girls! =) I sure hope they are getting ready to show me some love back! I find myself shopping for them. I got them oatmeal today to have on the cool mornings. And I put some hay and golf balls in the nest boxes. the 3 pictured was checking it out, but really just eating hay. Although the Orpington hid the golfball! HAHA!

 

[babowman3]

Ok so all of my golf balls are tactfully hidden under the hay in the 3 nest boxes. I haven't been outside in about 2hrs and the same BR that was with the BO in there was still in the coop. Hmm?? Ugh the anticipation is kiling me!

 

[Jewelwing]

Sounds like you better start looking around for eggs? They might be hiding them on you? Mine were hatched on about June 10th. As of yesterday I have gotten about 240 eggs from 7 birds. The first one started Oct. 23rd and by Dec 1st all 7 were laying. Not sure how big your area is for them but if there is any bush, tree branches or anything they could hide in and lay eggs check it out. Plus are you giving them any extra light? I have a small bulb in the coop that I set up on a timer to give them as much light as there is on the longest day of the year. This will help with egg production. With the 7 birds I get 6 eggs every day. With the off time at least 1/2 an hour after sunset. I did that because at first they would stay out until dark and then did not know to go in the coop or couldn't because it was too dark. So after a few nights of rounding them up and shoving them in the coop after dark I put the light in.

I have looked around for eggs, because the chickens do free range. I've not found any, but that doesn't mean they aren't there! I don't know where you are or what breeds you have, but I'm thinking that breed, latitude, and weather might make a difference. No, I don't have any extra light, or heat, and we've been getting pretty cold here.

My only one laying now is a Welsummer, but she's laid one egg a day for 6 days now! Every one has been in a pretty nest she made herself in the wood chips under the nest boxes. As far as I can tell, no one else is laying.

You're getting a huge amount of eggs for birds that age!

Ok so all of my golf balls are tactfully hidden under the hay in the 3 nest boxes. I haven't been outside in about 2hrs and the same BR that was with the BO in there was still in the coop. Hmm?? Ugh the anticipation is kiling me!

I've had plastic Easter eggs in the nest boxes, but I'm thinking maybe they're too light. So I just ordered some wooden eggs. Hopefully that will encourage my chickens to lay!

Good luck to you!

 

[Utard]

I have looked around for eggs, because the chickens do free range. I've not found any, but that doesn't mean they aren't there! I don't know where you are or what breeds you have, but I'm thinking that breed, latitude, and weather might make a difference. No, I don't have any extra light, or heat, and we've been getting pretty cold here.

My only one laying now is a Welsummer, but she's laid one egg a day for 6 days now! Every one has been in a pretty nest she made herself in the wood chips under the nest boxes. As far as I can tell, no one else is laying.

You're getting a huge amount of eggs for birds that age!


I've had plastic Easter eggs in the nest boxes, but I'm thinking maybe they're too light. So I just ordered some wooden eggs. Hopefully that will encourage my chickens to lay!

Good luck to you!

I am in SLC, UT. I have 2 golden sex links (I am pretty sure they were to first 2 to start laying), 2 plymouth barred rocks, 1 road island red and 2 americanas (they were the last 2 to lay) .

I would not do any heat but some extra light should help.

I had found some eggs polished out of rocks and had those in the nesting boxes. Not sure how well that works and all but 99% of the eggs have been layed in the nesting boxes.

 

[chicksurreal]

My pullets still have weeks to go, they're a little more than 17 weeks. I have noticed some more color in their faces and some wattle development, but their rose combs are still pitiful. Poor girls.

My SS Hamburg cockerel, however, has a stunning comb and wattles and is good to go, just ask him!

 

[chickenlickin8]

I have 3 EEs 26 weeks old and 3 BRs 23 weeks old, still waiting for my first egg. Maybe it will be today for New Year's! Happy New Year's Day to everyone!

 

[Chrysolinsbirds]

So excited , atleast one of my BR pullets started to lay lovely large brown eggs, my serama diamond and my rlb Wyand bantam started up at the same time aswell =) my buff brahma bantam and my bls bantam got jealous because they started back up again I have ceramic eggs in my boxes for my standards and small weighted Easter eggs for my bantams so far except for an Oeg starting her own nest in the pen with the Rabbits with her first eggs then going broody, we've had all our eggs in the boxes =)

 

[Happy Chooks]

Congrats!

 

[MistyMountain]

I gotta jump in on this thread. I have 15 pullets that are 20 weeks old. Mixed flock of 2 SS Hamburgs, 5 EE, 4 Brown Leghorns, 3 White leghorns, and one NH. They are all starting to get more and more color in their faces, but the below brown leghorn (left) has really taken off in comb/waddle color and size. Her sister (right) is the same age. Hoping these free loaders start earning their keep soon!!

Edited to add: That's Willie in the middle, my SLW roo. Gotta keep giving him praise for saving and protecting one of the SS hamburgs from a hawk last week!!!