Hen laying

[goody64]

I have 8 hens, one of my isa browns has been laying for about 2 weeks. Eggs are gradually getting bigger.
1- my hen will lay one a day, until today. She did not lay last night like normal and their is not one now. Y so sparatic?
2- I have 3 isa total. 3 barred rock and 2 Americana. How long before the others start? They are all from the same group. Meaning all the same age.
Am I doing something wrong?
Thx- matt

 

[roostersandhens]

 

[TwoCrows]

Hello there and welcome to BYC!

Certain breeds take longer to mature than others. And once they start laying, they will not be regular or lay consistently until they get their egg laying machines in order. When the combs and faces are really red, and they start to squat for you, you will know the eggs are coming down the pipe.

I would get them all on layer feed and oystershell on the side. They will eat the oystershell as needed.

So give them time. They will lay when they are fully developed enough to start laying.

Good luck and I hope they all start laying soon!

 

[goody64]

Thank you. I do have the one that's squats often when I walk up to it or go to pet her, and just got another one that has started squatting. I don't think I will need the oyster shell tho, the eggs that have been produced have good hard shells.. Will this change?

 

[Mountain Peeps]

Welcome to BYC!! Please make yourself at home and we are here to help.

Yes, watch for the egg squat, reddening combs and wattles, interest in the nests and singing.

And make sure they have calcium.

 

[TwoCrows]

Thank you. I do have the one that's squats often when I walk up to it or go to pet her, and just got another one that has started squatting. I don't think I will need the oyster shell tho, the eggs that have been produced have good hard shells.. Will this change?

Yes, they need oyster shell. Calcium can be depleted very easy even after a few eggs. Calcium also helps with contractions of the uterus. So without enough calcium, young and older layers can become egg bound easily. So get them some oyster shell.

 

[tfalls3]

my Black Sex Link is on her second week of laying, she took the weekend off, not sure it by choice or cause of it being the 4th and we had a TON of fireworks going off all weekend. she used to lay in the afternoon but has now started laying mid morning. she's the only one out of my flock of 6, i have 2 bared rock, 2 australorps, and 2 bsl. i have been reassured that its normal for them to take days off. she did lay a jumbo monday after her weekend off, but the rest have been normal size now. she's 21wks

 

[1showgirl]

Hi Everyone, I'm new here (as a member) however I have often read up on lots of chicken info here! Very helpful I must say. So a huge "thank you" for all the help. I too have a little hen that has not ever laid an egg, she is going on 8 months and always seemed a little slow (developmentally) so much that all my other chickens were giving her a hard time, she also walks funny? So she has become somewhat of a house chicken. She's outside in a covered enclosure all day but comes inside for the night. I have monitored her eating habits, stool etc. and everything seems normal? She's even gained weight but never lays? I do work for a veterinarian so I'm able to run test but just don't know what to test for? She's a little showgirl and I have had her since she was a few days old. I'm just at a loss? Or really concerned that I'm not doing something right? I kept her on medicated chick feed till 16 weeks then switched her to egg laying pellet which she still consumes plus a few little snacks here and there..so I'm open to any advise or suggestions! Thank you again!

 

[Mountain Peeps]

Thank you. I do have the one that's squats often when I walk up to it or go to pet her, and just got another one that has started squatting. I don't think I will need the oyster shell tho, the eggs that have been produced have good hard shells.. Will this change?

Yes, they need calcium no matter how strong their egg shells are.

 

[Mountain Peeps]

Hi Everyone, I'm new here (as a member) however I have often read up on lots of chicken info here! Very helpful I must say. So a huge "thank you" for all the help. I too have a little hen that has not ever laid an egg, she is going on 8 months and always seemed a little slow (developmentally) so much that all my other chickens were giving her a hard time, she also walks funny? So she has become somewhat of a house chicken. She's outside in a covered enclosure all day but comes inside for the night. I have monitored her eating habits, stool etc. and everything seems normal? She's even gained weight but never lays? I do work for a veterinarian so I'm able to run test but just don't know what to test for? She's a little showgirl and I have had her since she was a few days old. I'm just at a loss? Or really concerned that I'm not doing something right? I kept her on medicated chick feed till 16 weeks then switched her to egg laying pellet which she still consumes plus a few little snacks here and there..so I'm open to any advise or suggestions! Thank you again!

Welcome to BYC!!!

Some hens, sadly, end up never producing. Their ovaries never fully develop. But, she can still be a great friend, pet and companion. (Or she just might be very behind in her laying.)