my Welsummers won't lay :( But now they do! 31 weeks

[Cluckatar]

So, I have 7 hens... 5 of them hatched April 15, and another 2 EE's hatched two weeks later. Of the older girls, my naked neck started laying Sept 11th, and the barnevelder about three weeks later. Those two are going about 6 eggs a week each which is lovely. A week ago, one of my EE's laid an egg on the coop floor but nothing since. And my 3 welsummers have not even considered laying an egg! I'm feeding quality organic layer pellets and supplementing oyster shell, BOSS and scratch along with garden weeds etc. These girls are well fed and look very healthy.

So, to my question.... do I just need to remain patient? I'm a little concerned about the EE who laid one egg a week ago and none since. She seems like she really wants to (checks out the nesting boxes often, etc.) and she's eating and drinking normally, out in the run with the others, but I'm wondering if I should be checking her over for anything specific?

And will those welsummers evvvver start laying eggs?

Thanks for any ideas

 

[Amyable]

I've seen this theme quite a bit lately, so you're not alone. Maybe the Wellies just need a little more maturing. I think the stopping/starting in the EE's is common too.

Patience is a virtue?

 

[kayri]

My wellsummer was born at the end of April and I think she is just thinking about laying now. Her comb is turning a lovely red. but I don't think she has started yet, although someone laid an almost white little egg today and I don't know who. I know the wellsummers end up dark but I thought they might start light. Don't give up

 

[Tailfeathers]

Hi,

Your Wellies should start laying any time now. If you can post a pic, I could give you a better idea. The other thing is to check her pelvic bone area. If she's getting close to laying, you'll be able to fit at least two fingers between them easily. The combs and wattles are also an indicator.

As for the egg, it will start out being dark brown but it will be small.

Just FYI, in case you're interested, I raise, breed, and show Welsummers. Most Wellie folks on here know about my birds. I say that to simply say this, individual birds can vary within any breed. For example, my Ameraucanas started laying one day shy of their 25th week. However, one lady who bought chicks from me this year got her first egg three days prior to it's 18th week. So obviously the rooster probably made a difference there.

Oh, and wrt the EE, I wouldn't worry too much about the sporadic production at this point. Their laying cycle is sort of like an engine. They need to get warmed up and the production line flowing before you'll see any regularity. And don't be surprised if you don't get a couple of shellless eggs early on too.

God Bless,

 

[felidaet]

My 2 Welsummers and 3 EE were hatched in mid April. They have been laying for 3 or 4 weeks now. The Welsummers lay about every other day, occasionally every day.

The EE's started slowly. One egg every few days from each bird. Now one lays nearly every day, one lays probably 2 eggs every three days, and one lays about every 3rd day.

 

[Cluckatar]

We got a blue-green egg today in the run next to the water can

I'm pretty sure this is the other EE as the first egg I suspected was an EE was a peachy-pink color. My wellies are HUGE and have very red wattles, etc. They sure look like they should be laying eggs. But for the most part they are not doing any of the squatting behavior I've seen in the girls who are laying already. Tailfeathers, I will try and get a picture of them tomorrow and post and hopefully you can give me some thoughts. Thanks!

But my blue-green egg for today is increasing my patience

These are the three eggs we got today.... Barnevelder, Naked Neck, and EE

 

[Tailfeathers]

Ok. I'm subscribed to this thread so I should get an email when you do. Btw, where did you get your Barnevelders? That's an interesting looking egg.

God Bless,

 

[lurky]

 

[tellynpeep]

Same problem here. My Wellie and Cochin pullets are the only ones not laying yet. Though the Cochin looks ready. I was wondering if the Wellies are not good winter-layers, so I might have to wait till spring now? Anyone know? Thanks!

Oh, and my Wellies are from two different sources, but about the same age.

 

[Cluckatar]

Our Barnie came from a "chicken lady" in Sonoma County, CA. She orders rare breeds from various places and grows them out, or sells chicks a few days old. We got our five oldest from her, so I don't really have a good sense of where they came from. Couldn't get a picture of the barnie today as she was too busy eating in the coop But here are some recent eggs which include several of hers. That extreme close-up showed some of the great color in her eggs... they kind of glow. But from further back they fade into a normal medium brown. These are naked neck and barnie eggs, and the one on the far right is a peachy first egg from an EE.