The wait begins

[Knittycat]

So the chooks are out in the coop, and although there is some issue getting them back into the coop at night, they're pretty well backyard chickens at this point.

Now comes the interminable wait for the eggs.

July 22 will be 20 weeks exactly. I know they won't necessarily start laying omgrightnow, but thats when I'll start to get impatient. Or impatienter as the case may be.

How do you stand the wait??? I wants some eggs!

 

[wmdurfee]

i'm right there with you!!!! i'm also so excited/impatient I can't stand it

I'm also having the same exact problem getting mine to figure out that bedtime=coop... I think im gonna try the nightlight thing!

 

[tuesdays chicks]

give them 21 weeks before you start looking

 

[gritsar]

You're impatience will end and you'll give up looking for eggs twenty times a day. About that time....

You'll go into the coop and be surprised with a beautiful, perfect egg.

 

[aggie9296]

My Red Stars started laying between 16 and 20 weeks. Not sure of exact age. (Got them around 3 months old). I didn't start looking for eggs until their combs and wattles started turning red. Then I started looking all over the yard, nest box, flower beds, compost piles. Only checked about twice a day on work days and 20 times a day on weekends. Found the first egg on the ground. Guessing it was a surprise for her as well! And yes, I took a picture and texted all my friends and family.

 

[Knittycat]

16 weeks!? Wow!! I doubt mine will start laying that early I've got easter eggers, barred rocks, and welsummers. And I've heard that welsummers are late bloomers. *sigh*

 

[aggie9296]

Well, 1 of the 4 is holding out on me. So I'm still waiting on that one. Her comb hasn't plumped up as much. Reminds me of junior high.

 

[lsv313]

20 weeks?? The earliest ANY of my 6 laid was 24 weeks - the latest was 40!! Plan on 25, and if you get it earlier, then it is a super surprise! I do know it is a tough wait though!

As far as the bedtime routine - did you try locking them up in the coop for a few days? That helps them get used to it as their home, and after that, once you let them out they should put themselves to bed on their own.

 

[Knittycat]

Yeah, I did the whole this is your coop thing. I even put a light in there. I'm still chasing them down at dusk. Oh well. They'll learn.

 

[sheaviance1]

Quote:
some of my girls go in the coop SUPERLATE. I used to do the whole chasin chicken thang, but finally decided to just watch them one night. Sure enough, they went in on their own when they got ready.