when will they lay?

[can you hear me now?]

Hi all I bought some chicks at around mid may or so. Most of hem barred rocks. The others are silkies and then i have some that hatched around the same time. Been a little over two weeks the cockerel have been crowing but still no eggs. I was figuring around the end of October but still no eggs. Are there signs I should be looking for like comb color or something? Any help would be appreciated. I want to add that I have them on a light timer so.they still get their 14 hours of sunlight a day. Nothing should be stopping them. Any ideas?

 

[can you hear me now?]

Ok now I am just bumping the thread cause maybe nobody saw it when I originally posted it.

 

[lauriej57]

can you hear me now? :

Hi all I bought some chicks at around mid may or so. Most of hem barred rocks. The others are silkies and then i have some that hatched around the same time. Been a little over two weeks the cockerel have been crowing but still no eggs. I was figuring around the end of October but still no eggs. Are there signs I should be looking for like comb color or something? Any help would be appreciated. I want to add that I have them on a light timer so.they still get their 14 hours of sunlight a day. Nothing should be stopping them. Any ideas?

Normally, I could answer your question wtth total confidence! Hmm, I have five 30 week olds who are not laying yet, and I know the signs, I've been saying for the past 6 weeks, any week now. Mine have been on a timer for 6 weeks or so, and I've had chickens for 4 or 5 years now.

So, enough about me, back to your question.

Signs to look for are the wattle and comb growth, and the color. They will get really red when they are ready to lay. (Which mine are) If you reach to pet one, they will squat for you, the same as they would do for their rooster, (which mine don't do).

The shortening day length right now, can slow them down, even with extended lighting. Make sure you are giving them good layer feed, not too many treats.....Mine love pumpkins, but they've already been told, no more pumpkins til I get eggs, and at this rate, they may have to wait until next year for more pumpkin. lo.​

 

[bburn]

It is so hard to be patient. My chickens were from the last of April and the first of May. They started laying, finally, three weeks ago.

The layer pellets are important and I agree.....but, I think mine started laying after I started making sure they were getting enough calcium and protein. Just a little extra each day of things that were good for them.

Around two to three weeks after I noticed the rooster had started breeding them they started laying. My only experience with chickens.

But, I can tell you it will be an exciting day!!

 

[can you hear me now?]

Thanks I have noticed redder combs and some do squat but some dont. Hoping any day now the hatchery BR's seem to lay quite well so I am looking foward to it.

 

[can you hear me now?]

Lol yes it will. I can't wait till Kk.e start. Skipped a year on chickens but now I want and miss the fresh eggs. The anticipation is killing me