Noobie waiting on first Egg Question

[write2caroline]

So I'm trying to be patient and wait on the first egg from my five girls (2 GLW 5/15) (2SLW 7/20) (1 BPR 7/20)

Every day I open the egg door and look into the nesting box and see nothing! Then it occurred to me that they might not know where to lay their first eggs. I did put some golf balls in the nest boxes ( I swiped them from my hubbies bag! Bwahaaahaaa haaaaa - he'll never miss em!!!!)

Am I being silly to expect them to lay the eggs there or should I look around the tractor for eggs. I feel sooo stupid opening up the coop for nothing.

I really am trying not to pressure them - I am trying to be patient.

But uh they seem to be really delayed in this laying process.

Healthy - no mites, ticks, fleas, lice, worms normal poop. Good appetites. Everyone is now getting along with Hot Stuff the Rooster and they seem to have worked out the whole pecking order thing.

Any suggestions?

Caroline
Jax FL

 

[Kittymomma]

Your GLW's are probably the only ones old enough to be getting close. It varies a lot from bird to bird though. If you could post some pictures (particularly of their combs and wattle areas) we might be able to make some guesses. Also let us know what you're feeding them. It will happen, we've all been there. Nothing quite like waiting and waiting and waiting........for that first egg. Well, maybe the last month of pregnancy, in the summer

 

[write2caroline]

I will go take some pictures in a minute and post them.

I am feeding them FRM Layer crumbles and FRM scratch, plus they free range for a couple of hours every morning. They love these bluish berries the grow on vines. Bugs of course from the compost heap and I give them meat scraps, boiled eggs, peelings, rice, oats, oatmeal. They get plenty of grit and oyster shell.

I also give them fresh water daily and add a little apple cidar vinagar to the water.

Cal
Jax FL

 

[Jess N Jeff]

Don't want to pressure them? Hahahahahaaaaa....

Thats all I've been doing to my 34 month old Australorp and Bantam Cochin!!!! I use to beg and plead, then I cried and pulled the pity card...now I'm just threatening!!!! I'm sure that soon with come the calm resign that they will never lay eggs for me. At least I have my Cayuga duck that lays everyday!!!

 

[mendygnl]

I used to have a talk with my girls every day, while waiting for the first eggs, and remind them that if they didn't "pay their rent", I LOVE chicken & noodles.

It's so hard to wait for thr first eggs, but the golf balls are a good idea so that they see it as an example. Lynn M

 

[write2caroline]

Here are the pictures I took today

This is the BPR 7/20 hatched

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Here are the SLW hatched 7/20 See how ones comb is really developed and the others isn't but the flash also lightens how red they are

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And here are the Golden Girls GLW hatched 5/15 - What amazes me is that one of the younger SLW has a more pronounced comb - I don't think she is a rooster because my SLW Roo was hatched same day and you can see he is definately a Roo and she a pullet

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Cal
Jax Florida

 

[cybercat]

Cut out the scratch it is lowering your protien. You need 18% protien min for duel purpose breeds. If your feed is less than that check around to see if you can find that or up to 20%. If not feed some cheap dry cat food or any meat scraps. I would also cut out the ACV there is no proof it works but there is proof that too much acid will cause problems and there is citric acid in ACV. That is not meant to be used daily just as a helper when chicks are stressed.

 

[write2caroline]

Okay, Thanks

My FRM layer crumbles is 15% crude protein but I purchased some FRM cat food that my cats refuse to eat and went on a hunger strike because it was not the more expensive purina 1 they love so that is 31.5% crude protein. So I will cut out the apple cidar vinagar and add in some cat food and see where it goes!

Do you think the KFC Bucket is making them nervous?

Thanks

Caroline

 

[cybercat]

I would mix the cast food in so you get a protien level about 20%. 2 parts layer 1 part cat food that should do it for you. Once you use up that bag startdding new chicken feed if you find it.

Naw chickens can't read so KFC bucket mean nothing but smell might make them hungry. LOL

 

[joyous]

I didn't know you needed higher protein for duel purpose?! I have been feeding my wyandottes of about the same age, layer feed because they are mixed in with 3 hens already laying for about 3 weeks! I don't have cats, I have dogs, but I think their food would be too big for them! How long do you feed extra protein?