Still waiting for that last chicken...

[Criticalicious]

If it makes you feel better, out of my 5 girls, I have 2 BCM pullets going on 34 weeks who are still freeloading. 2 started laying more or less on time and then they stopped when the weather turned cold - one of these is molting, poor thing. So I'm lucky to get 1 egg a day right now! Guess I need more chickens, right?

 

[Melky]

Some have posted taken up to 32 weeks and others could wait till spring. They lay when they lay. Still waiting on a few myself. I personally thought the EE comb not mature enough but getting there. Hang in!

 

[Melky]

If it makes you feel better, out of my 5 girls, I have 2 BCM pullets going on 34 weeks who are still freeloading. 2 started laying more or less on time and then they stopped when the weather turned cold - one of these is molting, poor thing. So I'm lucky to get 1 egg a day right now! Guess I need more chickens, right?

No cuz they will do the same. Saw a lady recently on here who has 45 or 57 or so chickens. Only gets 5 eggs a week. More chickens not the answer in the winter.

 

[Rhodeislandsilkie]

Thanks! That does make me feel better. Maybe you should get more pullets. A good breed would be white leghorn.

 

[Rhodeislandsilkie]

I’m sure my EE will lay soon.

 

[MissChick@dee]

LOVE Leghorn ‘s

 

[Rhodeislandsilkie]

Yes, I am 98% sure she isn’t. I’ve never seen her once run to the coop when free ranging. (A lot of my hens do that. When they’ve gotta go lay, they go) She’s never been inside a nesting box. Thanks for asking though!

 

[Rhodeislandsilkie]

Yeah, I’m thinking of getting one in the future.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

It isn't the weather and squatting or not is no indication that ovulation is on the horizon. The greatest influence on onset of production is whether pullets reach laying age as days are getting shorter or longer.
This is the shortest day of the year. Beginning tomorrow, the pineal gland of all chickens (even blind ones) will be able to detect the lengthening day vs. night. That will begin to change hormonal signals encouraging production.
The same thing happens regardless of climate. Days will be lengthening in Canada and Mexico. It may be cold and snowy or warm and balmy. Eggs will be in your future regardless of temperatures.

Pick up your bird and examine the distance between the two pointy pelvic bones. If laying is imminent, the space will be over two finger width. an egg can't pass when there is no room. As the hormones are close to inducing ovulation, the space widens simultaneously and stays wide through the lay season.

Next fall and each thereafter, your birds will all molt and there will be a dearth of eggs till they recover. Some will quickly resume production, some will wait till after winter solstice.

Happy winter solstice everyone! Eggs are coming soon!

 

[aart]

Beginning tomorrow, the pineal gland of all chickens will be able to detect the lengthening day vs. night. That will change hormonal signals encouraging production.

But will it still take a certain amount of light for the system to produce an egg?