Lazy Black Australorps!!!

[SlaveJud]

My BA are from Meyers hatchery. They hatched on September 19. They are 23-24 weeks old. They still haven’t started laying. When I ordered them, I was told they was supposed to start at 16 weeks.
I have contacted the hatchery. I have checked the souls of the feet and they are white. The girls weigh about 4-5 pounds each. The pelvic bone is about fist wide - large boned female hand. They eat locally grown fresh ground layer feed. They are in a coop and run because I have free ranged black bears.
I am going to increase feed because they are in the light side. But any advice is appreciated. I am just about ready to process them and cut my losses!

 

[nuthatched]

Australorps don't start laying at 16 weeks, that's way too young for any breed, who told you that?
22-26 weeks is the average age to begin laying. Especially since they're late season chicks, they're waiting for spring and increased daylight, it may be closer to 30. It's still too dark in most places. Just be patient.
How much protein does the feed have? Sometimes more protein will help already Pol pellets lay. Are their combs and wattles big and red?

 

[the_peanut_coop]

My babies recently started laying, but I had to put a ping-pong ball into the boxes. Something clicked and I had 3 eggs from my four babies the next day.

 

[the_peanut_coop]

Australorps don't start laying at 16 weeks, that's way too young for any breed, who told you that?
22-26 weeks is the average age to begin laying. Especially since they're late season chicks, they're waiting for spring and increased daylight, it may be closer to 30. It's still too dark in most places. Just be patient.
How much protein does the feed have? Sometimes more protein will help already Pol pellets lay. Are their combs and wattles big and red?

Oh. This too.

 

[Sally PB]

I was told they was supposed to start at 16 weeks.

My Australorps laid at 19.5 weeks, and I was told that was pretty early. They were also March hatched chicks, so they had all summer to grow up.

 

[SlaveJud]

Oh. This too.

Australorps don't start laying at 16 weeks, that's way too young for any breed, who told you that?
22-26 weeks is the average age to begin laying. Especially since they're late season chicks, they're waiting for spring and increased daylight, it may be closer to 30. It's still too dark in most places. Just be patient.
How much protein does the feed have? Sometimes more protein will help already Pol pellets lay. Are their combs and wattles big and red?

The hatchery told me their line started at 16 weeks. I had several breeds pick out to match my existing flock - BJG and HRIR half breeds. I wanted to add better egg numbers without loosing to much meat production. I think I should have purchased the black sex link instead…
Standard 18 - 20% protein - a handful scratch mix at night to keep them busy while I tend the coop.

 

[SlaveJud]

The hatchery told me their line started at 16 weeks. I had several breeds pick out to match my existing flock - BJG and HRIR half breeds. I wanted to add better egg numbers without loosing to much meat production. I think I should have purchased the black sex link instead…
Standard 18 - 20% protein - a handful scratch mix at night to keep them busy while I tend the coop.

The combs and waddles are quite small compared to my other girls. But my girls have very large combs and most people think they are Roos so I don’t have a fair comparison.

 

[nuthatched]

The hatchery told me their line started at 16 weeks. I had several breeds pick out to match my existing flock - BJG and HRIR half breeds. I wanted to add better egg numbers without loosing to much meat production. I think I should have purchased the black sex link instead…
Standard 18 - 20% protein - a handful scratch mix at night to keep them busy while I tend the coop.

Sounds good, just be patient. sex links tend to konk out from reproductive issues fairly quickly so I honestly don't bother with them.

 

[Bhubbard]

I think my australorps were laying at 30 ish weeks. They are beautiful birds you will be happy with them!

 

[Cindy in PA]

Are the Australorps in a coop by themselves? If not, how do you know they are not laying? I had some from Meyer a few years ago & they started from 20-24 weeks & were good layers except the one who was constantly broody.