Still no eggs after 2 weeks

[YTP]

Hello everyone,

New chicken owners here. We picked up our hens april 22nd and haven’t had a single egg yet, at first we thought they might be too young but after a call to the supplier they assured us they should be laying eggs by now, we were told they were 18-19 weeks of age at the time of purchase. I think that they are ISA browns but I’m not 100% sure, I’ll add a pic down below. Here’s all the information about our hens;

Number of hens: 4
Coop size: 5x4 feet
Run area: 40 square feet (grass)
# of nesting boxes: 2 (24x12 inches each)
Food: Purina Gold’N Layena (organic)
Substrate: Wood shavings
# of roosts: 2 inside, 3 outside
Fresh water every day
Food available 24 hours
Coop is cleaned on a daily basis.
Sunlight at this time of year is about 14 hours a day where we live.

Our 4 girls look healthy and are very sociable. Just before sunset they always head inside and roost for the night.

I’m obviously no expert but the only thing I can think of is the fact that I decided to go organic, however after 2 weeks I figure they should be used to the food by now. I also noticed their droppings are softer than they were on the day we got them.

any help is appreciated!

 

[hysop]

Isa Browns start laying around 20-22 weeks. So maybe wait another 2 weeks and fingers crossed you’ll have some eggs then

 

[YTP]

Thanks for reassuring me, lets wait and see!

 

[sealer39]

They may not be laying yet but I’d still check very well under those bushes for a hidden nest if your letting them out everyday.

 

[aart]

Is feed pellets or cracked grains?

They look like they may be ready, or close....but.....an exam might be in order.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/who-is-laying-and-who-is-not-butt-check.73309/

 

[YTP]

Thanks for sharing this post... the feed is cracked grains. The supplier suggested we wait 2 more weeks and then revert to a non organic pellet feed if needed.

@sealer39, we only let them out of the coop twice for about 15 minutes, highly supervised. Spring cleanup isn’t done yet and the backyard isn’t 100% safe, plus the city doesn’t allow us to let the hens roam free in the backyard, that rule might be broken though as they seem a lot happier to walk around a 2000sf yard vs a 40sf run.

Is feed pellets or cracked grains?

They look like they may be ready, or close....but.....an exam might be in order.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/who-is-laying-and-who-is-not-butt-check.73309/

 

[aart]

Thanks for sharing this post... the feed is cracked grains.

Cracked grain feed is best served wet or fermented, so the fines(vitamins/minerals/amino acids) adhere to the grains and get ingested, otherwise they may just sift down to bottom of feeder/bag and not get eaten.

 

[YTP]

I think my hens have been secretly reading this thread, we got our first egg today! My girlfriend heard strange noises coming from the coop and had a hunch something was up, sure enough there was an egg, it was in one of the nesting boxes too!

 

[aart]

I think my hens have been secretly reading this thread, we got our first egg today!

That's how it works!!
Start a thread lamenting no eggs then they get the message!!
JK, but it has happened innumerable times.