First Egg Countdown

[7 Biddies]

With all the variation in laying ages, the frustration of waiting and counting the weeks, I'm giving up. They lay when they lay. If I'm watching anything, it's to see if I'm right about Aretha being the first to deliver the goods. Otherwise, I'll just be surprised and thrilled when it happens. Being anxious won't do anything to change Mother Nature's plans, so why get my blood pressure up?

 

[ruthanne]

With all the variation in laying ages, the frustration of waiting and counting the weeks, I'm giving up. They lay when they lay. If I'm watching anything, it's to see if I'm right about Aretha being the first to deliver the goods. Otherwise, I'll just be surprised and thrilled when it happens. Being anxious won't do anything to change Mother Nature's plans, so why get my blood pressure up?

I agree with you. Gerti layed her first egg last saturday and we havent seen anything since. So, I have been just checking at night when i put them away, and it there is an egg that will be a nice suprise. They will be 19 weeks this Saturday so it is still early for them to lay.

 

[ruthanne]

I'm wondering what kind of feed should they be on at 19 weeks. When do I change there feed. I have them on a laying crumble that I mix with the rest of there chick starter. I am also giving them greens every day, and once a week I am throwing in some scratch.

 

[Happy Chooks]

I'm wondering what kind of feed should they be on at 19 weeks. When do I change there feed. I have them on a laying crumble that I mix with the rest of there chick starter. I am also giving them greens every day, and once a week I am throwing in some scratch.

They don't need the chick starter anymore - just the layer feed.

 

[Flowerbh]

I

21 weeks is still pretty young for eggs. They will lay when their bodies are ready. It is actually better on their bodies that they lay better - hens that lay super early can have laying issues later in their life.

I have read that same thing many times in many chicken books. It's kinda like wanting your 14 year old child to start having children...way too young! So, I keep telling myself that I am glad that my 21 week old chickens still haven't laid eggs yet....yea, right!!! hahaha! Anyway, thanks, Happy Chooks, for reminding me to have patience.....eggs will come when they are ready!

 

[ruthanne]

is there anything else I should be feeding them.

 

[Shenanigans1]

Well my hens have been laying now for a week. Even the 5 y/o hen has started again. Don't know if it was just time or the calcium that triggered them.
They are avg. 3 to 4 eggs per day now. So dont give up.

 

[Flowerbh]

Quote: Here is what one of my books says about feeding LAYERS. (different for meat birds)

Starter feed: 0 - 6 weeks
Grower feed 6 - 17 weeks
Pre-layer feed 17 - 19 weeks
Laying feed 19+ weeks

It says that if you are on a tight budget, you can skip the pre-layer feed and just start feeding them a calciun supplement of Ground Oyster. Your chickens also need grit to help grind up food to help with digestion. If you chickens already have access to grass/dirt or free range they are already getting grit. If they are on concrete or not able to get to dirt, you can get a bag of grit at the feed store. You can also give your chicken table scraps. Just don't give them raw eggs, onions, garlic or raw potatoe peelings. Chickens enjoy fruit, vegetables and greens. Mine love yogurt, raisins, grapes, watermelon, tomatoes, oatmeal, melon and old dog food. Just remember that if you are trying to grow "organic" eggs, feeding them non-organic food scrapes negates that.

 

[ruthanne]

Here is what one of my books says about feeding LAYERS. (different for meat birds)

Starter feed: 0 - 6 weeks
Grower feed 6 - 17 weeks
Pre-layer feed 17 - 19 weeks
Laying feed 19+ weeks

It says that if you are on a tight budget, you can skip the pre-layer feed and just start feeding them a calciun supplement of Ground Oyster. Your chickens also need grit to help grind up food to help with digestion. If you chickens already have access to grass/dirt or free range they are already getting grit. If they are on concrete or not able to get to dirt, you can get a bag of grit at the feed store. You can also give your chicken table scraps. Just don't give them raw eggs, onions, garlic or raw potatoe peelings. Chickens enjoy fruit, vegetables and greens. Mine love yogurt, raisins, grapes, watermelon, tomatoes, oatmeal, melon and old dog food. Just remember that if you are trying to grow "organic" eggs, feeding them non-organic food scrapes negates that.

Thank you so much this helps. They are on Pre-laying feed I still have 1/2 a bag so can I mix it with the Laying feed so as not to wast that bag? I do feed them spinish and salad scraps, along with apples there is an apple tree in the middle of there coop so apples sometimes fall into there pen. But this helps me alot. Thank you so much for the info.

Ruth

 

[ruthanne]

Oh, they are on dirt. There coop floor is dirt, and I let them out during the day in the backyard to eat the grass and bugs.

And my daughter just went out to check on eggs, and found one in the nest. It is the small one next to the store bought egg.