grrr Please read !

[LittleFeat]

I'm new to this and don't know much but are your hens squatting? My 2 that are laying started squatting every time I approach and within 2 or 3 days, started laying. I don't crow either!!

Hopefully your's will start soon!

 

[spamee34]

Well here's an update . I had one egg today but it was a duck egg a good ole girl I got last summer already laying she's a malard /pekin mix and she is a good layer but NO CHICKEN EGGS! I did put a light in the coop two days ago and I caught my JG roo messin around with one of his hens today not much just pekin at her so we'll see . I have also added more layer pellets to their diet . I am waiting now to see what happens!

Oh and they do not get free range not yet I havn't finished my fence in the front yard yet and we have way too many stray cats and dogs so that isn't an option yet , but I am working on it for the summer. I will keep u all posted.

 

[92caddy]

I wonder if something isnt getting your eggs?

Put some hot pepper in their feed, that should make em to start to lay. I use the kind from the Dollar store, the kind you put on your food, with in a few days, the are a laying..............

 

[countrychics]

MY OLD WISE DAD HAS ALWAYS SAID, A CHICKEN WONT LAY WHEN IT'S FEET ARE COLD..SO THAT IN MIND I HAVE STRAWED EVERYTHING, AND KEEP THEM IN THE LARGE PEN ON RAINY,WET,SNOWY DAYS..WHICH IS LIKE EVERYDAY HERE RECENTLY... ALSO, I SWITCHED TO GIVING THEM WARM WATER..IT HELPED, AND CAYENNE PEPPER SEEMS TO INCOURAGE LAYIN....best of luck,,they'll lay soon...spring has GOT to arrive soon!!!!!!!!

 

[spamee34]

I was sitting ourside watching the flock today and I noticed that the hens seem to be keeping away from our big JG roo and when one would approch him he would peck at them on the back and they would run from him so I don't know what's up with that ! But on the other hand my oldest runner duck male has about 15 females and he has been busy today. The girl runners are 6 mos old so I wonder if they are going to lay now he is getting with them ? So what do you think? Am I gonna get duck eggs soon?

 

[pwand]

Quote:
When you approach your hens and they squate down, I would say they are just wanting your attention. The first four we had got lots of attention and every time you go up to them they would squate down and we would pet them. They are 7yrs old now and still do that, the younger ones that we didn't raise them when they were young run from us. They won't have it. LOL.

 

[Three Cedars Silkies]

The squatting is sexual submission and it does mean that they are point of lay. Should be seeing eggs any day now!

 

[Dixiedoodle]

It does seem like forever before your girls start to lay. I purchased 18week old pullets. I got my first egg (0ne) at 25 weeks old-- My last girl laid her first egg @ 43weeks old.. But once they started they lay almost every day and the eggs weren't small. You didn't say where you were, weather, season, food and fresh water are all factors in the egg laying cycle... Good luck.. Hope you have a basket full soon...Dixie

 

[twentynine]

Are you sure you got hens?

 

[spamee34]

Ok these hens are just not laying ! And yes they are hens lol! I have two roos a JG roo and a slw roo , The jersey giant roo is crowing now he started crowing last week but not the slw roo. As for my hens I don't know what is up with them the light has been in the coop for a week now and I am giving them pellets in the morning and scratch at nite and of coars they get greens a few days a week . I have to wait and see I guess? They do have to lay eventually right? They are now 10 mos old geeze this is getting old talk about free loaders !