One egg -- then nothing

[DeeTee]

Newbie question -- is it usual for a pullet to lay its first egg, then no more for a period of time?

I have 5 girls -- 2 RIR/Barred Rock crosses and 3 RIR/Delaware crosses. Last Friday (today is the following Wednesday) I went out at 6 a.m. as usual and found my first egg! Since then I have had nothing. By my count they were 22 weeks old last Friday when I found the first egg.

Now I realize they are still on the young side, but my expectation was that once I had the first egg that hen at least would be producing.

I should add that they are confined to a coop and fenced run, so they cannot be laying eggs anywhere else. They are fed layer crumbles, kitchen scraps, and of course fresh water.

 

[debilorrah]

She was just playing with you. She wanted to see how you would react.

 

[DeeTee]

Hee hee. I thought I reacted with appropriate fanfare! Maybe I was lacking in enthusiasm...

 

[debilorrah]

Our chickens have a celebration after each egg. One keeps guard while they all wait and when the hen comes out they all run and the roo starts crowing. A big fuss over every single egg they lay. Too funny.

 

[12 Acres]

To answer your question, I had a similar experience. After the first egg appeared, I had to wait 4 days till the next one. New layers take a couple of weeks to get going. But once they do things smooth out.

 

[Shared Acres]

Good question! My black silkie laid her first egg about2 days ago and I've been waiting on another!

 

[DeeTee]

Well, nine days after the first egg, the second appeared! It was small but perfectly formed, and laid in a nest box. It was also delicious.

Hopefully the chooks are gearing up!

 

[ebonykawai]

Mine seem to be taking a long time to get moving, as well. I have 10 hens and only 2 are laying, and only one lays consistantly. Five are 28 weeks and the other five are 26 weeks.

 

[Wynette]

It could also be due to the time of year. As the daylight hours are less and less, chickens lay less. They need 12-14 hours of daylight to stay in 'egg lay' mode. Some folks put light on them to extend the day; I choose not to. I feel that's nature's way, and I don't to mess with their natural cycles. But, if you want the best chance at getting eggs regularly through fall & winter, the best thing to do is add a few hours of light in the morning, via a light in their coop.

 

[DeeTee]

Thanks Wynette. I do have a light in the coop, on a timer. I agree with you about letting nature take its course though. I think next year I will give them that break in the fall/winter. This year though, I want my eggs!