Getting Frustrated, problem solve with me

[KNAndrs]

Alright, so I patiently raise 4 peeps from a may 6th hatch, add 2 bantam cochin pullets in july, add a gold lace wyandotte in august and finally a Lakenvelder hen 3 weeks ago. The Hens were laying when we got them, but since then they have stopped. My peeps are looking big, getting beautiful rose combs but have not started the squat yet.

I live in the far north in Superior, WI so I added lights and heat to the coop this last week as well. I have out a 18% finisher mash now, but did put out egg mash when the hens showed up. I have oyster shells out and provided 2 nesting boxes. The ladies also get vegetable scraps from the neighborhood and plenty of time in the run.

The question is, what am I doing wrong? If my calendar is right everyone should be laying and in production right now, but instead I am drawing up blanks every morning.

I should be getting 3 doz eggs a week out of these 8 beautiful birds.

Sad in Superior,
Pastor Ken

 

[TinyChickenLady]

I don't know about the rest but I think the May hatches are still too young. They are supposed to be at least 20 weeks old.
Are they getting enough sunlight?
Maybe some of them are still getting used to their surroundings.
Maybe it's too cold.... though it doesn't sound that way but maybe they aren't winter layers.
I've heard if they go broody they stop laying, so maybe you can watch and see how they are acting.
I'm an amateur but maybe some of those ideas will help.
Good luck.

 

[chickflick]

Patience, my dear. Good things will come to those who wait. Alot of times, stress will cause hens to stop laying for awhile. Stress, as in a new home, new enviroment , new friends. Actually, the peeps are still young. I have 2 hens I got, which their hatch date was April 24, and haven't started laying yet. Each hen is different. If you read some of these threads, some birds are 6 mos old and still not laying. The bantam are not good layers, usually.
You are not doing any thing wrong. It's just a waiting game. But, once they start, you'll be rewarded with lots of eggs and all that waiting will be worth it.

 

[KNAndrs]

Two windows in the coop, plus lights. I have the heater set at 55 degrees and it kicks in when it gets cold.

I don't think anyone is broody, how can I tell?

May 6th hatch means they are 20 weeks as of now. Do I need to wait another few weeks?

 

[LynninOK]

I got my chickens in March, and only one of seven is laying right now. (Unless there is someplace in the yard I haven't found yet...)

 

[TinyChickenLady]

Quote:
I think the first way to catch someone broody is she'll squat for you when you pet her.
But like chickflick said, it sounds like you're doing everything right but sometimes they take longer than others. Wait a couple more weeks and see what happens after they all settle in and get to know each other. You'll be over loaded with eggs before you know it

 

[lollimama]

I'm in the same boat! In fact, I have one old lady who was about 1 1/2 years old when we aquired her this summer and she was laying a huge egg every other day. She came with an evil chicken (a black sex link) who was pecking her bare and turned out to be an egg eater. When we got rid of her evil sidekick she laid one more egg and then went into a molt or something. She sat around depressed for days and stopped laying. It's been about 1 month ago now and we still have yet to get any eggs out of her again. My other two were hatched the first and third weeks in May so I'm still waiting for them too! Hang in there!! I'm finding that waiting for these first eggs is like waiting to go into labor....you have a due date but when that comes and goes it just makes you crazy waiting!

 

[KNAndrs]

I hope I am overloaded with eggs soon, these ladies need to start paying for themselves.

I am not trying to make money off of them rather I am looking for them to pay for their own food and provide me with money to buy meat birds and feed for them at the swaps all summer long. I know this is a stretch, but I am hoping it works out that way.


Thanks for the support,
Pastor Ken

 

[Uzuri]

The peeps are still a little young.

Are your hens going into molt, maybe? It happens right about now, and they'll quit.

It doesn't sound like you're doing anything wrong, you're just running into the egg wait (for the peeps), the effects of moving house, and the joy of northern autumn all at once.

 

[darkmatter]

Quote:
Nothing. You got chickens, there are a thousand reasons why chickens don't follow the schedule in the books. (I think it's because they can't read)