Still not laying

[tylerps03]

Featheredplanets,
I feel your pain.. Mine are all of 24 weeks and I was also threatening them, since they are so fat and lazy and low and behold I just got my first egg, 2 days ago. The others seemed to clue right in and I got 5 more. Fingers crossed, it will be any day now for you.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

There are two things you can do. While comb wattle size and color are good indicators of sexual maturity, only checking the space between the pelvic bones will tell you who is about to lay or if you have more time to wait.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/who-is-laying-and-who-is-not-butt-check.73309/
At that age, you can start incrementing day length to spur sexual maturity.
Use a light on a timer to come on in the morning and increase day length by a half hour a week and in two to four weeks you should have eggs.
They are also delayed by the stress of the move.

 

[featheredplanets]

There are two things you can do. While comb wattle size and color are good indicators of sexual maturity, only checking the space between the pelvic bones will tell you who is about to lay or if you have more time to wait.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/who-is-laying-and-who-is-not-butt-check.73309/
At that age, you can start incrementing day length to spur sexual maturity.
Use a light on a timer to come on in the morning and increase day length by a half hour a week and in two to four weeks you should have eggs.
They are also delayed by the stress of the move.

Thank you, I think I’ll try the pelvic thing. Unfortunately can’t supplement light as no electricity near coop. The move was a while ago though, when they were 10-12 weeks old, so I’ve had them for about 3 months. They do free range so I considered a hidden nest but they never hide anywhere or call.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

You could possibly use a battery and LED lighting, or better yet, a solar panel.

 

[featheredplanets]

You could possibly use a battery and LED lighting, or better yet, a solar panel.

Thanks for the advice. I’ll see if eBay or Amazon have any. Adding light doesn’t affect them negatively does it?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Adding light incrementally will simulate the increasing day length after winter solstice. That causes hormonal changes to induce production. As long as they have 8 hours or so of darkness they won't be negatively affected.

 

[aart]

Length of day doesn't seem to affect pullet laying in my experience.

I think it can somewhat delay onset of lay if they come of age late in year...may depend on latitude.

I’ll see if eBay or Amazon have any.

You really need a timer to keep light consistent, hard to do with battery or solar.

 

[featheredplanets]

I think it can somewhat delay onset of lay if they come of age late in year...may depend on latitude.


You really need a timer to keep light consistent, hard to do with battery or solar.

I looked into adding them but I think we won’t bother. We’ve got other things to focus on, like getting the run finished, so I’ll just try and be patient.

 

[featheredplanets]

They still aren’t laying. Now they’re between 26 and 28 weeks old. The brown one has squatted several times but neither has grown more loud or showing any nesting behaviour. They’ve stayed locked in the coop for a couple days at a time to see if they’re laying but hiding their eggs - nope. If they don’t start laying by the end of November (about 31-33 weeks old) I think I’ll just rehome them. I can only have a small number of chickens, of which I like layers or fancy bantams, not oversized free loaders.

Just updating for my sour self so that I’m surprised when I find a green egg.

 

[SueT]

How many hours of daylight do you have now?