My young hens are not laying yet.

[Farm de Jeffica]

We have 4 Ameraucana Hens about 7 months old. For about a month, one hen would lay a pick egg every day, but the others none. Then the last four eggs were green, but we are only getting an egg every three days. I still don't thing the other three are laying yet. Also one green egg was only a rubbery shell.

They are raised in a fairly large coupe, and have room to exercise in a run. We give them no artificial light or heat. Nights are around 10f-15f and days about 30f. We live in Western MA.

We feed them Laying Feed, and have water in a heated dog bowl. They also get some fruit once in a while. Apples, Tomatoes, etc…

Can anyone help?

 

[matt44644]

Adding extra light might help.

 

[threescompany]

We have 4 Ameraucana Hens about 7 months old. For about a month, one hen would lay a pick egg every day, but the others none. Then the last four eggs were green, but we are only getting an egg every three days. I still don't thing the other three are laying yet. Also one green egg was only a rubbery shell.

They are raised in a fairly large coupe, and have room to exercise in a run. We give them no artificial light or heat. Nights are around 10f-15f and days about 30f. We live in Western MA.

We feed them Laying Feed, and have water in a heated dog bowl. They also get some fruit once in a while. Apples, Tomatoes, etc…

Can anyone help?

Patience is all I know and spring is coming!! Give them some scratch before bedtime , makes them happy--lol!

 

[duluthralphie]

We are only a month beyond the winter solaces without extra light I doubt you will get many eggs right now, In a month it will be a different story.

 

[Farm de Jeffica]

I have a heat lamp on a timer in the coupe, but I haven't turned it on. How long would I keep the light on for?

 

[matt44644]

You just need a regular light 14-16 hours a day.

 

[duluthralphie]

I have a heat lamp on a timer in the coupe, but I haven't turned it on. How long would I keep the light on for?

I turn my light on at 4:30 am and off at 9:am. It gives the hens early light yet allows them to have natural sunset for getting up on the roosts. Sunrise is around 7:20 I think here.

 

[aart]

It's a little late to start supplemental lighting.
It takes a couple weeks to get it up to the 14 hours without undue stress, and a couple more weeks for it to have an effect.

They are just starting to lay and there will be glitches for the first month or so....I doubt the green egg came from the bird who laid pink.
The naturally lengthening days now occuring should have everyone gearing up to lay regularly soon.

 

[chicksurreal]

Our SS Hamburgs, who laid like clockwork until they started molting, are just now getting back into the swing of things after a couple of months off. I get one or two eggs a day from the 8 of them and only one of the 27 pullets we have is laying right now. I'd say be patient and they will start laying soon.

 

[Farm de Jeffica]

Very helpful. Thank you everyone