Sex-link not laying well

[Bird-lover]

I bought two sex links in February. One began laying about two weeks ago. The problem is in the last 7 days she has only laid one egg. Their run is 20x50. They don't have anywhere they can hide the eggs. Could something be wrong? Or is this normal when they first begin laying? They are only 18 1/2 weeks, so I still have them on starter/grower feed. They have access to oyster shell. There are other chickens in the run but they are all much younger. They have several laying boxes to choose from, with plastic golf balls in each one. I tried to hang privacy curtains but they tore those down. I fashioned a privacy door to give them privacy while laying. I'm just not sure what else I can do.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

I bought two sex links in February. One began laying about two weeks ago. The problem is in the last 7 days she has only laid one egg. Their run is 20x50. They don't have anywhere they can hide the eggs. Could something be wrong? Or is this normal when they first begin laying? They are only 18 1/2 weeks, so I still have them on starter/grower feed. They have access to oyster shell. There are other chickens in the run but they are all much younger. They have several laying boxes to choose from, with plastic golf balls in each one. I tried to hang privacy curtains but they tore those down. I fashioned a privacy door to give them privacy while laying. I'm just not sure what else I can do.

What you are noticing is pretty normal for a newly laying bird - there can be a lot of inconsistency (in size, location, frequency and quality) of laying as their systems really get going with all the different moving parts involved in laying learning to work together. You have done everything you need to do - it's just a matter of letting her body get the hang of things as far as production goes.

 

[Bird-lover]

What you are noticing is pretty normal for a newly laying bird - there can be a lot of inconsistency (in size, location, frequency and quality) of laying as their systems really get going with all the different moving parts involved in laying learning to work together.  You have done everything you need to do - it's just a matter of letting her body get the hang of things as far as production goes.

Thank you, Ol Grey Mare. I feel better knowing this. How long does it take, on average, for their laying to normalize?