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Silkies will not lay

Discussion in 'Chicken Behaviors and Egglaying' started by crazyelk, Sep 3, 2008.

Most Liked Posts
  1. Sep 3, 2008 #1
    crazyelk

    crazyelk Songster

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    Ive just recently got into the silkie hobby and I have 20 silkies altogether with 50 ore babies on the way. I have two pairs that have been together for at least two weeks now and I do not have any eggs.[​IMG] What am I doing wrong and what can I do. What are some signs that she is about to lay.

    I appreciate any help.
    Thanks Jason
     
  2. Sep 3, 2008 #2
    whitecra

    whitecra Songster

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    How old are they? Sometimes it takes them a while to get use to a new place.
    Chris
     
  3. Sep 3, 2008 #3
    HorseFeathers

    HorseFeathers Frazzled

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    I've heard of silkies that lay wicked late, but in your case it's probably the stress of moving. (I assume they are adult birds.) We adopted 2 hens- one layed a few weeks after the move, the other stopped laying, period.
     
  4. Sep 3, 2008 #4
    crazyelk

    crazyelk Songster

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    Yeah they are adult. I hope it just stress. How can you tell when they are about to lay? Do their combs and wattles turn red like the rest of the chickens?
     
  5. Sep 3, 2008 #5
    Mrs MIA

    Mrs MIA Chick Magnet

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    They may LOOK like adults, but how old are they really? I got lucky and had one of my hens start laying at 5 months. The rest have not yet started to lay (25-26 weeks now), and my first hen didn't start laying until 8 months. [​IMG] They're not broody, are they?
     
  6. Sep 3, 2008 #6
    Chirpy

    Chirpy Balderdash

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    My Silkies aren't old enough to lay yet, so I can't help you with the timing. I do know that Silkies are supposed to have black combs/wattles (if they are show Silkies). They can have red combs/wattles, and that's Ok, I'm just saying that it doesn't tell you when they are getting ready to lay (like other breeds).
     
  7. Sep 3, 2008 #7
    crazyelk

    crazyelk Songster

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    I bought them under the assumption that they have laid before. They have black combs and wattles. My little splash is starting to check out the nest box. Wonder if that is a sign?[​IMG]
     
  8. Sep 3, 2008 #8
    vfem

    vfem Yoga...The Chicken Pose

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    Mine didn't lay until 30 weeks, and we did get her at 27 weeks. She wasn't laying when I got her, and it still took awhile. I have 2 that are 20 weeks and not even close.

    She was squatting a lot right before she laid. Still rarely uses the nesting boxes though.
     

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