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emorems0 said:
Any reason to worry if my sister's hens still aren't laying? 4 of them are old enough that hatch mates have been laying for a few months already. I think the RIR from hubs dad was February or march, and then 3 from chiqueschicks and when I picked them up in october he said he was getting a few eggs a day out of that pen and at least one of the group I took laid an egg in my crate the next day... I assume it was one that took the chicken train west bc none of the ones that went to my sister are laying. I was up at Thanksgiving and their combs all looked bright red, it doesn't make sense to me that she still isn't getting any eggs.

Is it possible they are laying and they are just getting eaten right away? She has yet to see any evidence of eggs, she does have an egg shaped rock in each nest box. These birds are 8-9 months old with bright red combs, happy and healthy. She has yet to get a single egg. What gives?
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actually the ones that you brought me from chicychick layer five eggs and I haven't had one since but baby the Banty you gave me is laying one every other day I was starting to get worried.
 
Lelanae said:
Great idea! I cut a hole in a pumpkin , but none of my gang was interested. Is it because they are still young? (Hatch date 9/16/15)
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My girls went crazy for the pumpkin in the dead of winter when there was slim pickings. They still like it now, but they prefer the grass and other snacks.

dheltzel said:
You are right about the day length. Adding a light to the coop (I use a timer to turn the lights on from 3 AM to 8 AM) helps, but I believe the colder weather is a factor too. If you were a hen, this wouldn't feel like a good time to start a family, right? Modern chickens are bred to lay a lot of eggs, but they still are affected by their more primal instincts about when to start and stop.

My niece was lamenting last night that she had orders for 8 dozen eggs this week, but only had 3 dozen to sell. That's averaging 5 eggs a day from over 100 laying age pullets. Many of these are young, but age-wise should be at POL now or soon. Since I'm not setting eggs (except Reese Legbars and turkeys) I don't really mind that production is down now, as long as it picks up in January.

So, for everyone that is disappointed in their flock's production, my advice is to view this as a time they rest and recuperate for a physically taxing season of laying that is ahead of them. At least that's what I'm telling myself.

The best "winter layers" in my flock right now are the Reese Legbars, I'm getting about a dozen eggs a week from 6 pullets. Not that impressive I guess, but I'm getting similar production from the 9 Rhodebars, and they were the ones that really impressed me last winter. In the Rhodebar's defense, they are a year older and some are still coming out of molt. It goes without saying that I'm very impressed by those Reese birds. If I could pick which group I would like to lay well now, it would be them.
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I am getting about 1-2 eggs a day from my 8 girls. My Rhodebar hasn't laid yet, and 3 of my girls are molting, so I figure that's pretty good. Yesterday they laid 3 eggs! Which may mean I get nothing today.... I still enjoy them immensely. I agree with you Dheltzel. Egg laying is tough work, and I think it's probably healthier for the hens to have a rest, especially with a cold winter with less food variety. I don't think I would ever provide supplemental lighting for my girls, but I understand those that choose to. It also helps that I'm lazy. :lol:


speney said:
actually the ones that you brought me from chicychick layer five eggs and I haven't had one since but baby the Banty you gave me is laying one every other day I was starting to get worried.
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My bantam Cochin is actually a pretty good layer too! I used my food scale one day and determined that two bantam Cochin eggs are equivalent to one of my BA's eggs. :D
 
Tomorrow is "the day" to set chicken eggs for the hatch along. I don't think I want to, but....
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You all know how it is. You can never have too many chickens! Or ducks. Or turkeys. Quails...
 
speney said:
actually the ones that you brought me from chicychick layer five eggs and I haven't had one since but baby the Banty you gave me is laying one every other day I was starting to get worried.
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Thanks all, it's good to know about the other orpingtons from CC, my first year chickens didn't slow down last winter so I wasn't sure what to expect. My current guess is that they were late bloomers and are now being affected by the short days. Any idea when egg laying picks up again? I am only getting 2-3 eggs a day from my 8 laying age hens, but they are also coming off of molting.

In rabbit news, we've been successful so far with the current litter born the Sunday before Thanksgiving. They finally emerged from the nest box on their own today and there are 5 healthy fluffy bunnies. Mom let me pet her and reach into the nest box to give the babies some alfalfa hay. She's been really protective of this litter, which is understandable after her past losses, she actually bit me when I took the nest box out to check in the kits a few days after they were born.
 
emorems0 said:
Thanks all, it's good to know about the other orpingtons from CC, my first year chickens didn't slow down last winter so I wasn't sure what to expect. My current guess is that they were late bloomers and are now being affected by the short days. Any idea when egg laying picks up again? I am only getting 2-3 eggs a day from my 8 laying age hens, but they are also coming off of molting.

In rabbit news, we've been successful so far with the current litter born the Sunday before Thanksgiving. They finally emerged from the nest box on their own today and there are 5 healthy fluffy bunnies. Mom let me pet her and reach into the nest box to give the babies some alfalfa hay. She's been really protective of this litter, which is understandable after her past losses, she actually bit me when I took the nest box out to check in the kits a few days after they were born.
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oh I'm so happy for you well not the getting bit part but about this litter doing so well.
 
MotorcycleChick said:
Tomorrow is "the day" to set chicken eggs for the hatch along. I don't think I want to, but.... :oops: You all know how it is. You can never have too many chickens! Or ducks. Or turkeys. Quails...
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I just found out about this earlier. I kinda thought there was more time and I wasn't sure that I was going to join in our not. Last minute, but I scrounged up a few eggs, got the incubator out, set up, and ready to go :) it won't be the biggest set ever but still...
 
Crap crap crap crap......I've got a problem. I suppose its a good problem to have. Soooo I entered the MPC egg giveaway thing thinking I would never win because I never do. Well guess what.......I won a dozen eggs. I don't have an incubator. Anybody have one I could borrow or want to set the eggs for me?:D
 

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