First Time Chicken Owner

[NWChicks]

Quote:
About how long is "awhile"? I have a friend who bought two different chickens at different times and added them into her flock. One of them she waited several weeks and never got an egg from that girl She bought her because she watched her drop an egg right on the ground at her feet. She ended up taking her back.

The other bird she got laid the first day and hasn't quit!

I got an 8 month old EE hen that was laying where we bought her from but took just over 3 weeks to lay for us. Now she's laying several eggs a week pretty regularly but it did take awhile. (Yes, I was secretly jealous of my friend's eggs!)

 

[Ash]

Just about 2 weeks, maybe a little bit more. I must admit, even if they dont start laying, i wont take them back. They're too pretty and its nice toi have them around the house!

 

[NWChicks]

I know it's hard to be patient (believe me I know!) but try to hang in there a little longer. Are you feeding them layer food or giving them a calcium supplement? Mine is the oldest of the crew and the only one laying at the moment. I had resigned myself to not getting any eggs until the littler ones were bigger but I started giving them all kefir (a yogurt type drink) and low and behold, she started laying right after that! I don't know if the kefir helped (gave her calcium?) or if it was just coincidence but either way, I get eggs from her now.

 

[Ash]

"kefir (a yogurt type drink)"

Ive never heard of that, is it a poultry thing? What sort of stores stock it? And do u give it to them in their water, or as a seperate drink.

The feed Ive given them is apparently a lay feed formula.

Someone told me once that hens dont tend to lay eggs as often in the winter months?

 

[Ash]

"Are their combs bright red, or pinkish-yellow? If they are mature, their combs should be a nice dark red when they are ready to lay."

Had a closer look on the weekend, they their combs are light pink in colour. Does that mean they are young?