When is my chicken going to lay?

[Nina Zeyen]

I got two RIR's on July 23rd and they were bolth roughly 1-2 month old. Making them about 5 months if not older. One of them definitely seems to have laying habits, she will dig burrows and at times she will leave her friend alone to go burrow. She also has a more bright red comb which I have heard means laying. She has one fake egg in her box which she lays on every night. But No eggs yet. Any suggestions on why she isn't laying? Any ways to speed up the process?

 

[Dawnclucks22]

What do you mean by burrow? Do you perhaps mean dust-bathing? That's separate from laying that and most chickens will do it at any age... Also, she probably shouldn't sleep in the nest box because that can get poop on the eggs.
Otherwise sounds like you're doing everything right, I think most start at 6 months though.

 

[Nina Zeyen]

What do you mean by burrow? Do you perhaps mean dust-bathing? That's separate from laying that and most chickens will do it at any age... Also, she probably shouldn't sleep in the nest box because that can get poop on the eggs.
Otherwise sounds like you're doing everything right, I think most start at 6 months though.

She digs holes and sits in them for about 10 minutes. Inside of their house there are two nest boxes and I can't get her to sleep anywhere else She loves her box. But thank you for the advice I will definitely keep my eye on her she should be getting close to 6 months.

 

[mill-j]

I've never heard of a way to speed up laying. It's kinda hard to wait though . BTW do you have a roost for your chickens? They love sleeping on those.

 

[Nina Zeyen]

I've never heard of a way to speed up laying. It's kinda hard to wait though . BTW do you have a roost for your chickens? They love sleeping on those.

Alright. And I'm kinda new at this, Is a roost like a nest?

 

[NevilChick]

A roost would be like a pole or small (in diameter) piece of wood that runs the width of the pen they can jump up on to sleep at night. I'm sure you could probably google it to find different kinds. Hope they lay soon for you. I'm waiting impatiently myself. Had one egg a few days ago and no more since.

 

[sourland]

Roosts should be placed higher than the nest boxes as chickens like to roost at the highest point possible. Bottom line on laying is that she will start when she is ready and not a day sooner.

 

[Nina Zeyen]

A roost would be like a pole or small (in diameter) piece of wood that runs the width of the pen they can jump up on to sleep at night. I'm sure you could probably google it to find different kinds. Hope they lay soon for you. I'm waiting impatiently myself. Had one egg a few days ago and no more since.

Oh yes there are two inside of the pen. And the wait is not fun

 

[Nina Zeyen]

Roosts should be placed higher than the nest boxes as chickens like to roost at the highest point possible. Bottom line on laying is that she will start when she is ready and not a day sooner.

Alright thank you. Hopefully that day comes soon

 

[SouthofEden]

Waiting is VERY hard. My little girl was hatched in March and still not laying. She is pretty close to 8 months old and maybe older. I only have her and 4 little girls 4 weeks old. Seems like all I do is feed and clean poop. And no eggs Maybe someday