No eggs...help please

[New2COchicks]

I have Brahma hens, it is January, and they are 7 months old today. I feed them laying hen feed. I have had no eggs and i heard they are a slow breed to hatch eggs. Any advice to help them along...or just let them be.?

 

[SulkyBantam]

There's nothing you can do; you may have to wait until spring when the days lengthen. Brahmas can take a while before beginning.

 

[aart]

How long have they been on layer feed?
Really should stay on a grower or all flock until they are actually laying.

Time of year is at play here, and diet can have an effect too.

 

[Kirkwooder]

You could try artificial lighting. put a string of white Christmas lights in the coupe on a timer.
Set the timer to come on about an hour before sunrise. Lengthen the time weekly until you have them on about 13-14 hours of light a day. Turn the light on in the morning so that you don't leave them in the dark and off the roost.

Or just be patient, they will lay in time.

 

[sourland]

You could try artificial lighting. put a string of white Christmas lights in the coupe on a timer.
Set the timer to come on about an hour before sunrise. Lengthen the time weekly until you have them on about 13-14 hours of light a day. Turn the light on in the morning so that you don't leave them in the dark and off the roost.

Or just be patient, they will lay in time.

This may help. I'd switch to an all flock/grower ration with oyster shell on the side.

 

[RojoMarz]

Agree. Timing is at play. I have 5 pullets (2 RIR, 2 LB and 1 BO) that are 11 months old. All were laying previously. Currently I'm getting 1 egg per day, two if it's a good day. Days are getting longer, so maybe I'll be getting 2 or 3 a day soon, before moving back to 5 a day.

 

[RobertaD1]

Not sure about general ideas on brahmas... but mine are not reliable layers. They were slow to get to POL.... and have never been my best layers. Still love them... but they take some time.

 

[aart]

Not sure about general ideas on brahmas... but mine are not reliable layers. They were slow to get to POL.... and have never been my best layers.

That's for sure!
And they eat a LOT!
Sweet and beautiful birds, I sold mine as pets to a family with little kids.

 

[Kirkwooder]

Make sure you have good natural light in your coupe as well. I had some friends that decided to get chickens and used an old shed for a coupe. When they couldn't get their hens to lay they asked me to have a look at their set up. Turns out there were no windows at all in the coupe. The only outside run was very shaded as well. Chickens like a fairly dark spot to lay their eggs, but need good light inside the coupe to be able to feed and drink at random.

 

[RobertaD1]

That's for sure!
And they eat a LOT!
Sweet and beautiful birds, I sold mine as pets to a family with little kids.

Definitely not a breed to get if eggs are your only goal, and mine have NEVER went broody. But still... they are a fun addition to any pet flock!