How to get chickens to start laying

[Danny188]

I have 3 four month old chickens that havent laid an egg yet breeds are sapphire gem, australorp, and an unknown breed. They have some 9 week old pullets with them could this be stressing them out. Will ceramic eggs ecorage them to start laying.

 

[Danny188]

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Many breeds start laying at 5-6 months. Higher production breeds like leghorns and sex links may start at 4 months. Make sure you keep them on a non medicated starter grower. Add a separate bowl of oyster shells for the calcium needs in the next few weeks so it's available.

 

[Danny188]

Many breeds start laying at 5-6 months. Higher production breeds like leghorns and sex links may start at 4 months. Make sure you keep them on a non medicated starter grower. Add a separate bowl of oyster shells for the calcium needs in the next few weeks so it's available.

Ok thanks for the feedback

 

[smfarman]

Australorp should start to lay eggs between 18 to 24 weeks, at 18 weeks you may want to switch them to layer feed

 

[aart]

Will ceramic eggs ecorage them to start laying.

No. You'll just have to wait

 

[Danny188]

Australorp should start to lay eggs between 18 to 24 weeks, at 18 weeks you may want to switch them to layer feed

Ok thanks

 

[Danny188]

No. You'll just have to wait

Ok thanks

 

[imnukensc]

They'll lay when they're ready to lay.

 

[Cynthia Ann D]

Not only do most breeds not lay by 16 weeks, even production layers dont all start that early. I have 30 Golden Comets that are now 19 weeks and about 10 of them are laying.
Ruling out that they are too young, make certain they are healthy. I found out the hard way, that mites can inhibit laying and that, especially in warm climates like KY, you may have mites but see no signs of them. Older birds will often appear to be in a perpetual molt. Both the healthy looking young birds, and appearing to be molting, took this less experienced chicken farmer by surprise. In warmer climates, you may want to put poultry dust in their dusting boxes every two minths during summer. In between times, keep wood ash in their dusting boxes.
Another thing you can do to encourage laying, if they are the right age, is to feed them fermented mash. Well, actually, fermenting can be dine even when they are young. It has multiple health benefits and saves money on feed, because there is less food waste. Add a tablespoon of cayenne or pepper flakes to the mash. This not inly improves their health by discouraging parasites, it also discourages rodents from eating their food. Chickens dont taste the hot, rodents do. I dont know why cayenne helps them to lay, maybe because Not having parasites makes for healthier chickens.