Help request for chicken newbie

[Happy Chooks]

They look reeeeallllll close to me. (but I'm not an expert)


The egg song sounds like this -> cluck cluck cluck cluck BAGAWWWWWWKK

 

[PortageGirl]

Yes, they seem to get PES... (Pre Egg Syndrome) and get grouchier with each other when laying is starting I think... The whole pecking order gets rearranged every time they molt, go broody, whenever any new birds get introduced, whenever any birds get removed from the flock, if any chicks hatch out, and sometimes just for the heck of it.

 

[ewhulbert]

Its been a little over three weeks since I first started soliciting people's help. I have rebuilt the nest box, I used the dimensions I found on www.byexample.com, the box is 9x12x12. I reinstalled a flat roost, I used a 1x4 that I had laying around. They are idiots and it took them a week to figure out they could stand on it, but now they spend every night on it. My problem is that they still have not started laying. I thought they might want super privacy so I had the nest box turned backwards for a little bit so you couldnt see in from the front, but that didnt work either. I cant figure it out, three weeks ago people told me they looked really close. The RIRs look even more mature now than then. Their combs are super high now. Is this potentially a light problem? I have heard people say they need 14 hours of daylight in order to lay, so this afternoon I hooked up a light assembly to turn the lights on them starting at 0400. Here in Gainesville they had been getting up around 0630 and heading in to roost at around 1800, is it possible that is my problem?

I have given a lot of thought to the idea that they were laying outside of the coop, but I dont think this is accurate. They have been inside the coop for three straight days now due to our work/study schedules, and there are no eggs inside. If they had started laying, wouldnt at least one of them had to get one out by now?

If my problem is the light, or lack thereof, does anyone know how long it will take to see results? I am getting quite frustrated with my girls. My parents are coming down to Florida in three weeks and I promised them omlettes with farm fresh eggs and I really want to deliver. Thanks again for all the help.

 

[PortageGirl]

yeah, I see the difference now too, and that means their combs are still growing, which means they're not mature yet. You'll see when they get nice and bright red, and you'll say 'Wow, NOW I get it!'

I hate people telling me, "You'll know it when you see it." it is so annoying, but sometimes that really is the answer. Sorry, but time is the only answer. With these breeds, (some of my faves) you'll be ok in a little bit, they do grow slow, but once they get there, you'll love em!

 

[SpringChicken2010]

Your chickens look great!! Looks like you are doing a great job!!!

Portagegirl, LOVE your signature line!! REAL MEN DO WEAR KILTS!!!

 

[cposz]

We're only getting 11 hours of light and our girls are still laying strong.

They sure are pretty girls, though. Surely they will lay soon.

 

[PunkinPeep]

I'm not sure if my head got this right, but are they about 6 months old right now? ish? I know you don't know the exact age, but i think they're just not quite ready. They're really close ( i know you don't want to hear that again

).

And also, keep in mind that their first eggs will likely be kind of small. I understand the impatience of waiting for them to lay. It's SO hard. I used to run outside 4 or 5 (or more) times every day looking for an egg if i thought my hen had been sitting too long or if she had started singing again.

It's just part of the deal (the waiting). And you'll be so happy when they finally start laying! I would guess that you'll have some eggs by the time your parents come to visit. But you might have to buy some more farm fresh eggs from someone else to supplement those omelettes.

Also, from the coloring, i'm guessing that sex link will be the first to lay, before the rir's. You have really beautiful birds!

Completely unrelated to egg-laying, on your coop, you might look into some other kind of wire. I don't know about Florida, but around here, chicken wire won't cut it because the coons and other things will reach right through that wire and grab chicken heads. And then there is sadness.

 

[ewhulbert]

Yay, there is joy in our chicken family. I went out this morning to feed them and right there in the middle of the nest box was a perfect and relatively big egg. It was still warm, I cant believe we didnt hear her lay. I am pretty sure it was the darker of the RIRs, her personality has changed remarkably in the last couple of days. She now squats way down when we get close and lets us pet her. The other RIR has started doing the same thing, and the larger of the Sex links looked like she might have been posing as well yesterday.

On the note about chicken wire, I am putting a very tight weave hardware cloth over the vents on the sides of the coop. The girls are really good about roosting, so the only place that will really need the reinforcement should be the sides of the coop.

Thank you to everyone telling me to have patience, even though I really didnt want to hear it. It was your advice that kept them out of the crock pot, and I am really happy about that right now.

 

[PunkinPeep]

Yay! Congratulations!

That's a nice-sized egg! Way to go!

No wonder it took her so long!

 

[WisconsinGardenChick]

Quote:
Hi, there. I just starting reading this thread tonite, and my first impression, looking at your earlier photos, is that their combs weren't mature. I was surprised to read others saying that they looked ready. I have RIRs and when their combs started developing, I kept thinking, they must be ready now! But, they weren't. With mine, when their combs got large enough to flop over slightly, they started. Once they get going, they're great! Very dependable layers, so far, anyway. Best of luck!

PS Your birds look healthy and beautiful. You WILL get some eggs!