no eggs but poop

[groleau6]

My girls are about 29 weeks. have had no eggs yet, and trust me I have tried about every trick in the book from golf balls to over stuffing the nesting boxes. This week my girls have taken everything out of the nesting boxes--all the hay/straw and even the golf ball. They have taken to what I would call resting in the boxes and pooping in them, but not at night. It's some what confusing to me. What is going on? What am I doing wrong? They have no worms, and are eating well. I am at a loss. My husband wants to start from scratch with a new set and butcher the ones we have if they haven't laid in a week. Is he right??

 

[mrchicks]

Hi!
Some birds start laying much later than others. I'd block off the nest boxes until I found an egg, then uncover them. That should break the bad habit that they have. What breed are they?

 

[groleau6]

The are RIRs. Most of the others from their hatching are laying already.

 

[mrchicks]

I'd think they would be laying by now, but would also give them extra time. I've learned to be really patient, as my breeds don't lay for the longest time. I have a lot of Polish, they are terribly slow to lay.

 

[nayeli]

Girl, I know! I have a silkie hen who is I think 8 months and still no eggs!