Four different breeds, 22 weeks and zero eggs

[Skittleinaustin]

I have americaunas, black stars, buff Os and a Brabanter. All are 22 weeks, several have VERY red waddles and combs but none are laying! I am in Texas and it is hot, but I've got shade cloth up, a fan going from 11-11 and a mister from 1 - 6 pm. They have a nipple system for water and a spare gallon jug I refresh daily just in case. They have been on layer feed since 18 weeks. When do I start to worry?

 

[OurLittlebitRanch]

They should be laying by now BUT, don't freak out yet. Chickens are very moody. My year old hens have slowed down a lot because of the heat. Out of about 15 hens I was getting about 10-12 eggs a day (and they are not production birds) when they really started laying, around 7 months old, it has been over 100 the past week or so and I am only getting about 4 eggs a day.
It sounds like their conditions are great though, a mister, my chickens will be jealous! Give then another few weeks.

 

[questions543]

ya, Ive heard of chickens that have layed they're first eggs after 34 weeks

 

[Bullitt]

I have americaunas, black stars, buff Os and a Brabanter. All are 22 weeks, several have VERY red waddles and combs but none are laying! I am in Texas and it is hot, but I've got shade cloth up, a fan going from 11-11 and a mister from 1 - 6 pm. They have a nipple system for water and a spare gallon jug I refresh daily just in case. They have been on layer feed since 18 weeks. When do I start to worry?

I am surprised that the Black Sex-Links haven't started to lay by 22 weeks. Are you sure about the age? Do any of the pullets squat down?

If you do not start to get some eggs in two weeks, I would guess that there is something wrong.

 

[questions543]

I am surprised that the Black Sex-Links haven't started to lay by 22 weeks. Are you sure about the age? Do any of the pullets squat down?

If you do not start to get some eggs in two weeks, I would guess that there is something wrong.

x2

 

[Skittleinaustin]

One of the blacks is squatting as is one americauna. The waddle on the Brabanter is flame red, but no squat. I suppose I could be wrong about age, but the breeder I got them from at 4 wks had told us the hatch date and they looked right.

They get a lot of kitchen waste...kale, berries, squash...could it be too many treats and not enough feed? With the 100+ weather, I was planning on giving them frozen melon.

 

[Bullitt]

One of the blacks is squatting as is one americauna. The waddle on the Brabanter is flame red, but no squat. I suppose I could be wrong about age, but the breeder I got them from at 4 wks had told us the hatch date and they looked right.
They get a lot of kitchen waste...kale, berries, squash...could it be too many treats and not enough feed? With the 100+ weather, I was planning on giving them frozen melon.

The age couldn't be off by more than a week or so.

It sounds like a couple of your pullets will start laying soon. Hopefully the other pullets will also start laying soon after.

I don't think there is anything wrong with feeding fruits and vegetables to your chickens. And I am sure they would like a frozen melon as a treat.

I would lay money that by the Fourth of July you will be getting more eggs than you know what to do with.

 

[sumi]

I had a hen once that laid her first egg aged... 8 months. But don't let me discourage you!
I read in a chicken book that you should give your pullets layer pellets/mash in the mornings, just the mornings, as breakfast. Apparently that gets them going. I haven't tried it myself, but the author swears it works.

 

[pichuris]

I came here looking to see why my hens have decreased egg laying and i had no idea the extreme heat affected that. Now I stopped freaking out. I thought maybe a snake was eatting the eggs since I found one in the duck coop. Whew.

 

[OurLittlebitRanch]

I came here looking to see why my hens have decreased egg laying and i had no idea the extreme heat affected that. Now I stopped freaking out. I thought maybe a snake was eatting the eggs since I found one in the duck coop. Whew.

Yep, if its too hot they might slow down production, if its too cold they might stop. If they don't like the food you are feeding them they might slow down or stop!!! Some breeds are more resistant to the changes in weather, those are the breeds that we try to keep for ourselves.