Should I buy eggs or wait it out?

[kian]

Thank you all for the welcome! You've already made me laugh today, you all are awesome!! I know I'm going to enjoy being here!

Yesterday is when I we got our 4th layer. After she laid that egg she squawked for 20 minutes straight. I thought she'd never shut up! Proud is one thing but sheesh!

 

[luvmychicken]

Welcome kian. Just have to tell somebody. My eggs are chirping. I am soooo very eggcited. Oh. And my hubby has figured out chicken math. He bought me 4 chicks for valentines day and then took me to TSC which we bought 6 more. The the 4 that are due to hatch Thursday and the hen I already have That will make 26. I started out with 4 hens and a rooster. Love that math. Lol

 

[BullChick]

MC, I gotta know, on the other thread, was that pic you posted of the Harley bathroom decor yours? It's a hoot!

Nope. My bathroom is from ... Whenever people built indoor plumbing. The sixties?

 

[MythicLabs]

I have had a heck of a time with my chickens laying eggs..I have yet to see one..they are at a year old..they are barred rock..I have 3 females..they decided they wanted to hang out over at my neighbors now..I finally got 3 of the 4 back over today and locked them up in a pen so they can't get out (they were free range on my 1 .4 acres) still have to get the 4th one over..any ideas on what I can do to get them to start laying?

 

[okallthis4eggs]

I have had a heck of a time with my chickens laying eggs..I have yet to see one..they are at a year old..they are barred rock..I have 3 females..they decided they wanted to hang out over at my neighbors now..I finally got 3 of the 4 back over today and locked them up in a pen so they can't get out (they were free range on my 1 .4 acres) still have to get the 4th one over..any ideas on what I can do to get them to start laying?

Give them PIE. Thats what your neighbor has been doing. See if the neighbor will give you a few eggs. BR's can be tough to cooperate. But you have come to the right place. Lots of BR experts here.

 

[kian]

Not sure how to entice her over, but is there a chance they've been laying while out free ranging? You might stumble across a whole cache of eggs one day!

 

[Wishing4Wings]

I have had a heck of a time with my chickens laying eggs..I have yet to see one..they are at a year old..they are barred rock..I have 3 females..they decided they wanted to hang out over at my neighbors now..I finally got 3 of the 4 back over today and locked them up in a pen so they can't get out (they were free range on my 1 .4 acres) still have to get the 4th one over..any ideas on what I can do to get them to start laying?

Hi and welcome!

Well, you see your first problem is that you have BRs!!

You just never know with them.

Roger the BR is this thread's mascot and provides much comic relief. I'm sure we will hear from her soon. She's quite a character and demands all sorts of treats before she will lay, especially pie.

On a serious note, at one year old, your hens are probably already laying, as kian said, and you're just not finding the eggs or something is eating them. The hens should have large, very red combs when they reach laying age. If yours look small or pale, there might be a health problem (mites are common). Sounds like you need to encourage them to lay in the coop (I'm assuming you have a coop and lock them up at night). Put some fake eggs (or golf balls) in the nest boxes to give them the idea. I would also lock them in until the afternoon to see what happens. My girls are conditioned to come running when I call because I usually give them some scratch or treats. Really, they only have to see me to start swarming around like a pack of hyenas. Treats will encourage yours to stay home.

The other thing to consider is their diet. They need protein (in layer feed, insects, venison carcasses, eggs, meats and fish) and they need calcium (also in layer feed and oyster shells) to lay eggs. Lack of protein will slow or halt egg production, and lack of calcium can cause soft shelled eggs (which they'll often eat). You probably know all this, but I'm just trying to cover all the bases.

Let me know if any of this helps. I think you should lock them up and see what happens as a way to start. Good luck!

 

[Wishing4Wings]

Welcome kian. Just have to tell somebody. My eggs are chirping. I am soooo very eggcited. Oh. And my hubby has figured out chicken math. He bought me 4 chicks for valentines day and then took me to TSC which we bought 6 more. The the 4 that are due to hatch Thursday and the hen I already have That will make 26. I started out with 4 hens and a rooster. Love that math. Lol

So cool! Early congratulations! What kind of chicks are you expecting? Hope you share some pics.

By the way, your chicken math sounds like it is at the advanced algebra level!

 

[Wishing4Wings]

Quote:
The 1860's???

 

[Wishing4Wings]

Thank you all for the welcome! You've already made me laugh today, you all are awesome!! I know I'm going to enjoy being here!

Yesterday is when I we got our 4th layer. After she laid that egg she squawked for 20 minutes straight. I thought she'd never shut up! Proud is one thing but sheesh!

I have one that squawks lengthily before and after. The first time I thought maybe she just surprised herself by laying that first egg and the double squawk routine would disappear, but she's still at it! Some are stealth layers, not a sound, but most make you think something's after them! And roosters get blamed for being noisy!