New to hen keeping, little guidance needed....

[Dawkins Bull Terrier]

HI, and thanks for taking the time to read my question, hope you can help.
I have converted my shed in the back garden, (Sunderland. UK) into a coop (6"x8"x8") and built a run on the side(12"x4"x6")with a flap to release them. I bought 2 light sussex hens 3-4 weeks ago.
I fead them layer pellets and water daily and veg around 3 times per week. They seem happy enough and arnt very noisy (well, the one weve called 'big' occasionly sneezes? whats that about?)
1 problem...No Eggs!

Now i know there is no real answer and i have to be patient, but i bought them at 26 weeks old, (or at least told they were 26 weeks, the seller did have dozens of hens of varying breeds so it must be hard to know what age all her hens are at) there now 30 weeks and they have 2 perfect nest boxes, one high one low, and in the high one i have had 2 fake eggs for the last 6 days but to no avail. Also i have now added a light in there from 7am til 10pm to mimmic the summer months and still nothing. So would just like to hear from some people in the know.
Any info, advice or guidance would be greatly appreciated.

One more thing....How long do i leave the fake eggs in the nesting box? they have been in around a week now with no joy but this morning i went and checked for eggs and the nesting box had been emptied, all the straw and fake eggs were on the floor. could this mean one of them is getting ready to lay?

hope you can help.

Thanks Again
Dean

 

[Boyd]

!!!!

Sometimes the stress of moving can knock them off laying for a week or two. I'd leave fake eggs in the box till they start laying there reliably. And the emptied nest might be a feisty momma who's figuring things out since sounds like you have younger birds!!! Refill that nest up, and Welcome!!

 

[Buck Creek Chickens]

the move can sat back laying, as for the fake egg it can stay there all the time, but if you want to remove it wait till they are laying good, have you seen anyone test out your boxes, and maybe they are younger than you think

 

[Dawkins Bull Terrier]

I have yet to see either of the hens in a box. I have a large tree branch in there as a perch and they always sit on there or the floor. They did sit on the nesting box till i built a sloped roof to deter them. Hope they lay soon as I am desperate for some tasty eggs. Thanks for the welcome.

 

[wekiva bird]

 

[Imp]

from Washington State

Should be soon.

Imp

 

[mikeb0153]

Are you mixing oyster shells with the feed?

 

[Ehigh57]

Hello from GA!

 

[scbatz33]

Don't know about sussex, but my polish were 9 months+ before they started laying. Breeds differ in age for POL. Alos, they probably aren't as old as you were told and shifting them from one place to another can throw them off for a week or two til they get comfortable with surroundings.

Are the laying boxes ina quiet, dark corner out of the main area of the coop. Are you sure they aren't stealing off and laying somewhere else? If you are free ranging them in the yard, you may have a stash of eggs under the bushes!

 

[pringle]