my chickens are not laying??

[irol04915]

I have one white rock hen that is 5 1/2 months old and 6 silverlaced wyondettes that are 4 1/2 months old and then i have 4 guinea hens and an easter egger that are 4 months old....when can i expect any eggs?? and should i change then off the started chick feed???....i am not sure how if all my silverlaced chickens are hens how would i tell if they are roosters??......i am a new backyard chicken farmer, but i love my babies

 

[my sunwolf]

Welcome to BYC! If you post some pictures in the breed/gender forum, you can get some answers on whether they're pullets (female) or cockerels (male). Pullets often start laying at around 6 months old, but some lay earlier and some lay later. Once they start laying eggs, you need to get them on layer feed for the extra calcium. Try not to feed layer feed to pullets that are not laying yet (a little won't hurt them, but too much calcium can cause problems). Hope you get some eggs soon

Keep us updated!

 

[ChickensRDinos]

I would keep your chickens on a non-medicated grower feed until all of them are laying. When the first one starts, add an oyster shell on the side but keep with the grower until they have all started. There is no harm in laying hens eating the grower if they have the oyster shell. (I use this for my mixed-age flock)

The first eggs will vary, I have had hens start as early as 4 1/2 months and as late as 8 1/2. It's like girls and first periods, there is a big range of healthy results.

Good luck! Finding that first egg is so exciting.

 

[ChickensRDinos]

the oyster shell is for that extra calcium that Mysunwolf mentioned.

 

[ShakeragSusan]

I found my first guinea egg at one day shy of 16 weeks. They are good at hiding their eggs.
I'm still waiting on chicken eggs. My pullets are just 17 weeks old.

 

[irol04915]

thanks for all the info....I am loving this site, i have found out so much just browsing @.....I am going to take some pictures of my chicks to see if I can get some help telling the sexes.......thanks everyone