Still waiting for first egg

[erinp26]

I will preface this post by saying I know I am impatient.
I have 7 girls, all different breeds, that are 20.5 weeks old. One is a red sex link which I would have expected to lay by now. Her pubic bones are about 3 fingers apart (pointer finger and ring finger each on a bone), her comb and wattle are nice and red, she’s calmed down quite a bit. I check for eggs daily. Last night when we were putting them in the coop our maran started singing the egg song (which i have learned is not necessarily a sign of eggs). Early this morning, the cream legbar started singing too. By the time I got outside she was kind of separated from the rest.
Is there any concern if the sex link doesn’t lay soon? Anything else I should be looking for?

 

[Acre4Me]

No concerns. Sounds like you may be getting a eggs very soon. Red coloration of comb and wattles and more settled/calm personality Are both great signs. Most of ours (many heritage breeds) start to lay in the 20-24 week range. Some took a bit longer. We’ve had one breed that took 35+ weeks to begin, and they were a Feb hatch. But you’ll be in eggs very soon!

 

[SueT]

X 2 on post above. But just a question---are they free range? ( If so, keep them confined until they start laying and get used to the nest boxes.)

 

[erinp26]

X 2 on post above. But just a question---are they free range? ( If so, keep them confined until they start laying and get used to the nest boxes.)

They are! I guess maybe that is part 2; we just built a “big” coop (8x12’) and currently have our 10-week old chickens confined in there and plan to move the 20-week girls in next weekend at night. We have 6-week girls that need to move into the brooder in the big coop. So, should i keep the biggest girls confined to their old coop? Until when? I can’t get them to stop sleeping in the nesting boxes in there. I was hopeful for a fresh start next weekend

 

[SueT]

They are! I guess maybe that is part 2; we just built a “big” coop (8x12’) and currently have our 10-week old chickens confined in there and plan to move the 20-week girls in next weekend at night. We have 6-week girls that need to move into the brooder in the big coop. So, should i keep the biggest girls confined to their old coop? Until when? I can’t get them to stop sleeping in the nesting boxes in there. I was hopeful for a fresh start next weekend

I always make pullets at point of lay (POL) stay confined until they are used to using nest boxes. Once they get attached to a nest, they usually go back to lay.
Sleeping in nest boxes---What is your coop layout like? Are the roosts higher than the nest boxes? They usually pick the higher option.

 

[aart]

So, should i keep the biggest girls confined to their old coop? Until when?
I can’t get them to stop sleeping in the nesting boxes in there.

Yes.
Free range birds sometimes need to be 'trained'(or re-trained) to lay in the coop nests, especially new layers. Leaving them locked in the coop for a week or so can help 'home' them to lay in the coop nests. Fake eggs/golf balls in the nests can help 'show' them were to lay. They can be confined to coop and maybe run 24/7 for a few days to a week, provided you have adequate space and ventilation, or confine them at least until mid to late afternoon. You help them create a new habit and they will usually stick with it. ..at least for a good while, then repeat as necessary.

Cover the nests an hour before roosting time, then uncover when you lock up after dark and or at first light in the morning.

 

[erinp26]

SUPER appreciate everyone who has helped me so far
My big girls are now 23+ weeks old and still no eggs. Almost all of them are now squatting but only 2-3 are really red in the face. These are the breeds; red sex link (really thought we should of had an egg so far), black maran (surprisingly, she started squatting next and is very red already), blue amerucauna, polish, cream legbar, gold laced cochin, olive egger.
When we moved them out to the big coop, we kept them in there for 3-4 days. They BEG to get outside to free range. I've been trying to keep them in there until mid-morning in hopes of coaxing them to lay. Haven't found any eggs in the yard yet either. THE WAIT IS KILLING ME

 

[SueT]

They BEG to get outside to free range. I've been trying to keep them in there until mid-morning in hopes of coaxing them to lay.

Don't give in! They can easily hold the egg in till mid-morning and then run out to lay in a hidden nest. I've seen it happen, caught them at it. They will get used to being confined after a week or so, this is tough love, and it is well worth it to establish a life-long habit. If they really haven't started laying yet, then even better!

 

[blackandtan]

It’s like watching a pot boil - it takes as long as it takes but seems longer if you’re waiting for it!

 

[blackandtan]

I had a whole flock of barred rocks wait more than thirty weeks one time, I was about ready to pick em up and smack the eggs out like you would a stubborn ketchup bottle! (Jk)