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Australorps take longer to lay--Black Stars are laying machine hybrids. They start earlier and lay more for the first couple of years and then the laying fades faster then non-hybrids.
Mine started laying at 26 weeks, but it took another month for all of them to lay. They were hatched the first part of February, so were spring time chickens. Yours are summer to late summer chickens and will often take longer to lay. Probably in a couple of weeks. The waddles get big and red several weeks before laying. They get chatty friendlier and start squatting about two weeks before laying. Within a week of laying they will start checking out the nest box. Mine ripped the nest box up so badly I had to add a taller board to the front! Yours may just be having too much fun playing in the yard
Make sure they are getting a good layer food with enough protein. It's not a bad idea to give them some plain yogurt in the morning. I get mine from the Grocery Outlet(local discount store).
Just a note, my RIR Pullets started laying a week before the BA's--even though the RIR Pullets are 6 weeks younger, so I know your frustration.
Also, BA's will be several pounds heavier than the Black Stars. BA's develop slowly, but are a Dual purpose breed. They will not bully the others, but at some time they will re establish the pecking order and probably one of the BA's will be the top chicken.
Good luck!
Ron
>>>>>>>>>>
Australorps take longer to lay--Black Stars are laying machine hybrids. They start earlier and lay more for the first couple of years and then the laying fades faster then non-hybrids.
Mine started laying at 26 weeks, but it took another month for all of them to lay. They were hatched the first part of February, so were spring time chickens. Yours are summer to late summer chickens and will often take longer to lay. Probably in a couple of weeks. The waddles get big and red several weeks before laying. They get chatty friendlier and start squatting about two weeks before laying. Within a week of laying they will start checking out the nest box. Mine ripped the nest box up so badly I had to add a taller board to the front! Yours may just be having too much fun playing in the yard
Make sure they are getting a good layer food with enough protein. It's not a bad idea to give them some plain yogurt in the morning. I get mine from the Grocery Outlet(local discount store).
Just a note, my RIR Pullets started laying a week before the BA's--even though the RIR Pullets are 6 weeks younger, so I know your frustration.
Also, BA's will be several pounds heavier than the Black Stars. BA's develop slowly, but are a Dual purpose breed. They will not bully the others, but at some time they will re establish the pecking order and probably one of the BA's will be the top chicken.
Good luck!
Ron
