how to encourage the start of egg-laying?

[jdellosso]

Though I'm new to this, we got our first egg this morning from our partridge cochin, who is just about seven months old. Yes, we've had chats. I've waved the barbeque tongs. I've patiently explained their lot in life. I've given them uncured spiral cut ham, grass fed steak, organic feed, crushed egg shells, pate, brie, but no champagne. Here's what I learned-a couple weeks ago, her comb and wattles finally started to grow, and now she looks like a real chicken. Her pal, Vivienne, is huge, but no comb and wattles, hence perhaps, no eggs. BB squawked for three days, and finally this morning, showed us what itwas all about. When your day comes, all those long, eggless days fade into the past, and you'll focus on that one perfect oval and be thrilled.

 

[bibliophile birds]

one of the Wyandotte's comb and wattles are so red and prominent, i thought for a second that i had killed the wrong chicken the other day (i processed the 2 Wyandotte cockerels)! but no, just very red pullet wattles. maybe she'll be the first.... soon soon soon soon soon. i've not really noticed the others, but that could just be my lack of paying attention.

 

[Bravo]

I dunno about the red, funny thing with my girls was the reddest one of all was the LAST to lay! I thought for sure she would be the first, even credited her with the first egg and thought the others were forever away from laying--until I caught the others in the nesting boxes.

She finally ended up laying about 3 weeks after the others LOL

LOVE the bedtime story!! What a riot!!!

 

[fiddleblue]

When I bought my chicks I was told they'd be laying at age 4 months. I've come to realize that was a bit optimistic. They are now aged 5 1/2 to 6 months old and have just begun laying. I have had golf balls sitting in their nest boxes for the last two months to suggest to them what I wanted to see them create. When they started laying, it appears 3 have started laying all at once, because from getting no eggs at all, suddenly I got three in one day, the next day two, then three again, and I've observed 4 hens sitting in nest boxes and thus behaving as if they may either be laying, or imitating others who are laying.

 

[Davaroo]

The rule-of-thumb timetable for egg-laying is 24 weeks - 6 months.

Now, there is always someone to come along and announce that THEIR chickens started at 18 weeks, maybe even 16. They smile broadly and proclaim the wonder of miracles - I reckon that oddities do exist.

But poultry science, i.e., the in-depth study of chickens, eliminates most of the guess work. It tells us the magic number is 24weeks.

Keep in mind that hatcheries are in the profit making business and will tell you what sells. Don't listen to the kid at the feed store, either, or the eager farmer hankering for your money. Politicians aren't the only ones making false promises; men wearing coveralls and John Deere caps bend the truth just as readily.

Once I figured these things out, I dumped the calendar and any hopes of a Reformist chicken intent on proving science wrong.
6 months is the expected point of lay around here, which is in truth very liberating. One less thing to worry about, you know?

 

[chickenboy29]

Try putting golf balls in your laying boxes!

 

[AnnieSantiago]

oops - how do I delete a post???

 

[AnnieSantiago]

For what it's worth.............
my first pullets (two years ago) were 21 weeks old. One night before closing the coop for the night; i gave them the sweet talk of what good girls they were...... right as i closed the door I stuck my head in and YELLED " NOW LAY SOME #$%^&* EGGS
Next morning at 8:00 I had two fresh eggs.

hahah! That's how I ended Menopause!

 

[Cw6rlup]

Have you looked into a solar powered light. They are great for locations without power

 

[alisonanne]

...

my girls are nearly 5 months and still no eggs. they hop in and out of the nest boxes and the boys are giving mating their very best attention, but nothing to show for it yet. i can't add light because my coop is mobile and in the middle of a field. is there anything dietary that might encourage them?
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