When will they start laying?

[Cheyenne97]

I have an Easter Egger and two Isa Browns that still haven’t started to lay. The EE will be 30 weeks next Monday. The Isa browns are both about 20 weeks. (You can see the other Isa Brown in the picture with the EE). Also, my buff Orpington stopped laying abruptly . Any idea why? She doesn’t appear to be going through a molt.

 

[Cheyenne97]

I have an Easter Egger and two Isa Browns that still haven’t started to lay. The EE will be 30 weeks next Monday. The Isa browns are both about 20 weeks. (You can see the other Isa Brown in the picture with the EE). Also, my buff Orpington stopped laying abruptly . Any idea why? She doesn’t appear to be going through a molt.View attachment 1524345 View attachment 1524346

I just looked at my calendar and the EE is actually 32 weeks old

 

[ChickNanny13]

Your EE looks like they're getting close, when you approach them do they squat? Once your pulltets squat when you approach or try to pick them up, they're very close. Also to figure out which is laying, measure the space between their pelvic bone, wider = laying. As of your Buff, is it possible she's molting? You don't have your location in your profile, so unsure of the climate.

Edited - The ISA Browns, look pretty close too. One thing raising layers teach us is PATIENCE

 

[Cheyenne97]

Your EE looks like they're getting close, when you approach them do they squat? Once your pulltets squat when you approach or try to pick them up, they're very close. Also to figure out which is laying, measure the space between their pelvic bone, wider = laying. As of your Buff, is it possible she's molting? You don't have your location in your profile, so unsure of the climate.

She kind of squats but not really. I’m located in KY and it’s still really warm here. Temperatures were in the 90’s today. The EE pelvic space is wide as is the buff. I will check the Isa’s tomorrow.

 

[Cheyenne97]

I haven’t had any eggs in the nesting boxes and I know they haven’t been laying them else where because my dogs would have found them.

 

[New2Chicks97]

Do they free range at all? Are you sure she isn't hiding the eggs? My EE girls love to lay anywhere but the nesting boxes. I call them my little "wild" girls. I had to put hay bales in the large outdoor run for them to lay in because otherwise they would wait until free range time and crawl into my haystack to lay their eggs or go adventuring into the tall grass on the neighbors property to lay. Sometimes one of them will still wait until late afternoon and crawl into my haystack to lay. All of my brown egg laying chickens are perfectly content to lay in the nesting boxes (Buff Orpingtons, Wynadottes, Brahma, Marans) but the EE and the Favacauna lay in the hay. SIGH! Chickens can be so crazy!

 

[ChickNanny13]

If you free range & the pelvic bone is 2 - 3+, you got eggs somewhere .... I used to allow my girls out of their Chicken House but not until after they laid (afternoon). Now they stay in their enclosure, the neighbors dogs are too interested even with the fence

 

[Cheyenne97]

They free range all day. I’ve sat outside with them for hours I haven’t seen them sneak off anywhere. I would have the pelvic spacing is about a 2 1/2. I’ll definitely search again tomorrow.

 

[ChickNanny13]

Easter Egg Hunt in the Summer time

 

[aart]

They free range all day. I’ve sat outside with them for hours I haven’t seen them sneak off anywhere. I would have the pelvic spacing is about a 2 1/2. I’ll definitely search again tomorrow.

Save time and lock em up for a week.
Free range birds sometimes need to be 'trained'(or re-trained) to lay in the coop nests, especially new layers. Leaving them locked in the coop for a week or so can help 'home' them to lay in the coop nests. Fake eggs/golf balls in the nests can help 'show' them were to lay. They can be confined to coop and maybe run 24/7 for a few days to a week, provided you have adequate space and ventilation, or confine them at least until mid to late afternoon. You help them create a new habit and they will usually stick with it. ..at least for a good while, then repeat as necessary.