I've had my girls for three weeks now and they seem to be settling in. They eat like queens - good layer crumble, scratch, crickets off the lawn, some of my leftover cornbread and the occasional strawberry or slice of peach or lettuce. They get plenty of fresh water and at least 10 hours of daylight. I even installed a solar-powered LED light for the inside of their coop to give them some extra light. They know where the nest boxes and roost are and they are all 1 -2 years old and were laying for the guy I bought them from. He told me that they would take a week to ten days to settle and get used to their new home before they would start laying again but it's been longer than that and still nothing. With the days getting shorter and colder, I understand that egg production slows down but jeepers, I'd just like the thrill of one egg before the show flies. Any tips or advice for a novice? Thanks, Barbara PS - forgot to say that they are Easter Eggers.
When can I expect some eggs? What I have learned in the short time that my life has revolved around chickens is that you can expect eggs when they get darned good & ready to give you some eggs! It's frustrating, I know. You may as well get used to it, though. I think they are like Jessica Simpson-they play dumb, but they really know how to play to their public-which would be you & me.
They could possibly going through a molt since they are old enough but not sure because you have a light inside the coop. But ee do not lay as many eggs as most breeds that may also be why no eggs.
Love the Jessica Simpson Comment!! We adopted a bantam that was laying for the farmer we got her from; it took her about 3 weeks before she started laying for us and now we're getting about 3 eggs a week from her. Good Luck! -- Susan
Jessica Simpson Maybe if I wrote a letter to Santa he might persuade them to leave something for me on Christmas morning. Really though, they are so pretty and amusing, egg production is way down on the list for me. Still, it would be nice to be able to look 'em in the eye and honestly say to my city friends who ask that I got chickens for the eggs. They just don't seem to understand why anyone would want to keep them for just pets. Shucks, they all just about had a conniption when we started raising composting worms. Thanks, Barbara