New chickens not laying yet...?

[TelfTheElf]

Hi there

Erm...what is the point of lay for chickens normally?
i bought some chickens about 3 weeks ago and they haven't started laying yet...
when i bought them they were just about to turn 16 weeks old....
i'm worried and this has never happened before to me...please help!!!

TelfTheElf

 

[oregonkat]

Lots of factors contribute to getting hens to lay. If you only got them three weeks ago, perhaps they have not become totally used to their new digs. Chickens are creatures of habit and disruption to their routines often make them stop laying for a little while.
Make sure they have constant access to layer feed and that they understand where they are supposed to be laying, maybe put in a couple of ceramic or stone eggs in the nesting boxes to show them. Are there other older hens in with them? New introductions can take a little bit to get used to also.

 

[jolly wattles]

16 weeks isn't a definite age for laying. Some may not start till 24 weeks. Not to mention the stress of the move. Have they started showing signs? Checking out nest boxes, squatting when you go to touch them, red combs and wattle, egg song? Do you have pics and maybe we can tell?

 

[SueT]

It could be another month, or even more, depending on what you are feeding, what breed they are etc. What breed(s) are they? I had only one chicken start to lay at 16 weeks. Most waited until 20-24 weeks or even longer.

 

[Little Jerry Seinfeld]

16 weeks isn't a definite age for laying. Some may not start till 24 weeks. Not to mention the stress of the move. Have they started showing signs? Checking out nest boxes, squatting when you go to touch them, red combs and wattle, egg song? Do you have pics and maybe we can tell?

I agree , and it is definitely different by the
Breed, some lay as early as 4 months and some take 8! So pics will help alot. Each chicken is different too, I got 2 easter Eggers this year , i read they can lay from 6 to 8 months but I had one start at 4.5 months.

 

[oregonkat]

Too true, the breed is important. My BCM do not lay till 28 weeks!

 

[TelfTheElf]

Hi guys
thanks for the speedy replies....
erm...sorry i dont have any pics....but i have 5 white leghorns and 9 highlines...
and an incredibly chivalrous cockerel....
will try the fake egg idea....
i have seen no signs of checking the nest box out or anything

 

[jolly wattles]

Hi guys
thanks for the speedy replies....
erm...sorry i dont have any pics....but i have 5 white leghorns and 9 highlines...
and an incredibly chivalrous cockerel....
will try the fake egg idea....
i have seen no signs of checking the nest box out or anything

What do their wattles and combs look like? Fake eggs wont do anything if they simply ain't ready. Only time fake eggs have worked for me is to get them to lay in the box instead of other places. Or to end the life cycle of a troubling snake. I currently keep 3 golf balls in each nest box cause of that. Wife hates snakes. Terrified actually.

 

[aart]

Here's one way to tell....
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/who-is-laying-and-who-is-not-butt-check.73309/
Pelvic points spacing is the key for me.

 

[TelfTheElf]

i went to feed my chickens today and as i went in some of them like crouched down and their combs are going more redder. i take this as a good sign