No eggs yet!

[chooky]

I've had my chickens for 2 weeks as of tomorrow, and still no eggs!

They were suppose to be point of lay when i bought them, but i guess they might have been *almost* at POL when i got them, and they just need a few weeks? I'm not sure exactly how old they are, i just hope they start laying soon!

They don't seem to love the laying pellets i bought them, so i went and got another kind (still 15% protein) but it had some extra 'yummies' in it (like corn, etc...) I don't think they eat enough of it though and maybe that's the problem?
When i bought them the guy told me they would eat about 200gms each a day, i don't think they eat that much. I also throw out scraps for them during the day (discovered they love strawberries and cheese... not big fans of baked beans, lol)
They are let out in the morning (normally around 9.30, i let them out after i do the school run) and free range all day. I've checked along my fence line (has a vine thingy that overhangs, and this is a favourite hang out spot for them), i've checked all over my yard for secret chooky egg hidey spots - no joy.

I'm just not sure if i'm doing something wrong or not?

 

[blue fire]

They need time to adjust. When they feel comfortable they will start laying.

 

[ijon1]

Quote:
You are right on.

 

[chooky]

How long generally does it take for them to settle in?

They were super scared of me when i first brought them home, now they will come to within 30cms of me, and one even pecked a bit of strawberry out of my hand the other day.
They approach me when i go outside, hoping for a tasty morsel i presume. A couple (or maybe the same cheeky chook) felt comfy enough to wander into the house for a nosey.

The only thing i'm worried about is my not quite 2 year old who likes to go out there and chase after them, little tike! I try to stop him as much as humanly possible.

 

[Happy Chooks]

They do need time to adjust, but it's also *possible* you were lied to about them being at POL. Post some pics and we can look for you.

 

[HEChicken]

Even hens that are already laying will generally stop laying for a short time after a move, to adjust to their new surroundings. Given that yours were marketed as "point of lay", you may have to wait a little longer for eggs. It depends on the breed, but there is a wide variation in the age at which pullets lay their first egg. I have a red sexlink chick who hatched on Sept 21st so is right at 5 months old. She has not yet laid her first egg, and based on the redness of her comb, I'm not expecting her to lay yet this month. However another BYC'er who bought a bunch of red sexlinks from the same Sept 21st hatch, had most of his start laying at 15 weeks!!! He lives north of me, where their days are even shorter, but perhaps he adds supplemental light to trick his girls into thinking the days are longer - I don't know. My point is that the person who sold you your POL pullets can only guess at when they will start to lay. I wouldn't jump to conclusions that they are being dishonest about age. If I were selling pullets, I would call an 18-weeker "point of lay" because from that age on they can start to lay - depending on breed and time of year (daylight hours).

 

[gallina man]

i have had my hens 4 weeks now still no eggs but the combs are getting more red by the day .going to let mine out for the first time today .we will see how that plays out. been told mine are 4 to 5 month. and rsl wee shall see.

 

[chooky]

Here's a pic of one of my girls

 

[HEChicken]

She looks like a red sexlink so you will probably be happy with her once she does start to lay - they are prolific layers of good-sized eggs. Its hard to make an exact guess but if you asked me to, I'd say she's still a little way out from laying. Her comb is reddening up but is not that big yet. There can be a lot of comb growth very quickly as they mature, but I would say you are looking at anywhere from 1-4 weeks yet.