UPDATE!!! Am I doing something wrong?

[Diesel84]

My 3 Black Australorps will be 21 weeks this Sunday and still not a single egg!!! I thought Australorps were supposed to be heavy layers? I thought they were supposed to start at 18 weeks? I thought once their wattles and combs grew in they'd lay?

Apparently all I thought was wrong.. Are they mad at me? They have a nest box in their coop with a golf ball in it that has been there for several weeks now... No success.

Is anyone else experiencing this? Or with this breed? at all? Is it just me?

I WANT EGGS!

LOL - Someone calm me down..

 

[Ridgerunner]

When they start laying can vary quite a bit by the individual. Breed has something to do with it but individuals of the same breed can vary quite a bit. Since you have only three, the averages don't mean a whole lot.

I had 23 pullets. One started laying at 18 weeks. At 20 weeks 2 more started. Two weeks later, 2 more started. At 23 weeks I had 5 laying and 18 not laying. My Australorps were not among the early layers, but they were very good layers once they got started.

My Orpington that started laying at 18 weeks never did straighten out. She had problems that I think may have been made worse by her starting to lay before her body was absolutely totally ready for her to start laying. She did not make it into my permanent laying/breeding flock. Commercial egg laying operations do not try to force their hens into laying as soon as possible. They prefer the hens grow up first so they can lay normal eggs and not injure themselves when they start laying. The hens lay better over their life if they grow up first.

Feel better?

 

[rosiethechicken]

I was upset when BRs didnt start laying when I thought they would lay.
I checked everything, combed every inch of backyard (still do), checked
their pelvic bones etc.

I am still upset that not all are laying and the ones started laying arent
laying consistently. BUT, I think there is not much we can do except
look for things

1. Is it possible they are laying somewhere (if they are free ranging).
Many people reported that their chicken are masters in laying in all sorts of places
and in hiding eggs.

2. Is it possible they are eating eggs. Someone reported that after closer
observation, they found that their chicken were finishing the eggs.

3. Is it possible its too hot where you are and thats the reason they aren't
laying.

 

[NeeleysAVLChicks]

Ridgerunner nailed it, totally agree!

Remember the watch pot that never boils? No worries, you'll be eating omelets in no time!

Have you noticed them starting to squat for you?

 

[Diesel84]

Ridgerunner, Ok starting to feel a bit better about the situation.. Thank you!

Rosie - They free range as soon as I get home, I let them out of their coop for several hours everyday - other than that they are in an open bottomed run w/a coop house attached. I'll comb the yard today to see if by chance they layed elsewhere, but to be honest I haven't even heard the "Egg song"

They are however getting louder! Yesterday I surely thought they layed b/c they were SO LOUD! Squawking.. but alas, they were just out of food and wanted to let me know. It is very hot here in FL, but I foresaw the heat coming and moved their run/coop months ago to another side of the house right outside my window that is in constant shade by trees,etc. I don't think they are eating them bc I havent seen any eggshells, yolks, or liquids in their coop.. ::sigh::

Neeleys - They do squat! All 3 of them I've noticed, have started squatting when I pet them.. they are very loveable and let me touch them at all times.. I stroke their backs and they sort of kneel/squat then go about their business. They started about 2 weeks ago doing that, I thought for sure I'd have eggs by this week.. lol

 

[Jenski]

Later is better. My hens who started later have been more consistent layers of larger eggs - - and grew to be larger hens.

Patience.

 

[Germaine_11.20]

Think about keeping them cooped for a few days to see if they are laying outside. Sometimes they find the best spots to hide them.

Also, are their combs and wattles bright red? If they are squatting they either are already or should be laying soon. I have a few breeds that are going on 8 months and still no egg.

I did however get my first buckeye egg today!

 

[briggate]

Is squatting a precursor to laying? About 3-4 of our BO's have been squatting for weeks - only one of them is actually laying so far as I can tell - but I just interpreted that as a personality trait - the squatters are really friendly and a few of the others are quite standoffish.

 

[briggate]

Quote:
Okay just read Rustyswoman's comment this after I posted mine - guess I'll calm down and wait a bit longer too.

 

[Beekissed]

Also...your eggs could be getting gathered by a snake or rat. Chances are, though, that they just haven't started to lay yet.

Aussies are great and consistent egg layers, don't worry!