Who else is waiting for that first egg?

[21hens-incharge]

Do some of them just never leg eggs? Do they need to see a rooster to get them started?

I have a couple that have only ever laid a few eggs in their life time. They are 5 years old now and yes it is possible to have a sterile hen. Not common but possible.
I have a splash hamburg that is in my avatar that had a rough start in life and only lays about 30 eggs a year. The hamburg breeds are said to be super troopers on laying but she is not. The other hamburgs I have are awesome layers. Just not this one.

 

[lizardandchicks]

How many fingers should you be able to put between the pelvic bones when they are about to start laying?

 

[suzy5033]

Mine are 17 weeks old and I found a little tiny egg in a nesting box yesterday.i have 4 older hens in the same hen so I have them all on flock raiser. Do I wait until all of the younger one start laying to switch them onto layer feed? I have young ones total.

 

[21hens-incharge]

I keep all my chickens on All Flock. That way I do not have to worry about giving them something they do not need. I keep oyster shell available too for the ones that are laying.

 

[suzy5033]

Thank you for the response! Love this site!!

 

[21hens-incharge]

You are welcome. It IS a pretty awesome site. Glad to have been able to answer for you.

 

[CHIPSchicken]

These are pictures of two of our four girls (2BR and 2RIR). They are 20 weeks old and everyday is like Easter for my kids going out to the coop and looking for eggs. We are waiting and keep telling ourselves that they will lay one of these days.

 

[k5crew]

This is my haul for the last 3 days. Looks like I am up to 5 of my 7 girls laying. One more isn't even close (no squatting etc) and another that may join the group at any time. The rest of my group is about 16 weeks old; however, one girl is already squatting and sticking close to the boxes!!! I am so thrilled everyday!!!

 

[HennaRose]

Sophie started laying while I was away this week, and I’m really happy that her eggs are blue! I’ll try to get a good picture tomorrow; she’s only laid two and apparently my chickens have decided that one bird at a time gets to lay an egg - since Sophie started, Bianca’s stopped. There were no white eggs on the days that there were blue eggs, and no blue egg on the day there was a white egg, and no eggs at all today. Rosie and Matilda haven't started yet.

I suspect the heat may have something to do with it. We’re in the full swing of summer now, and it’s hot and humid here. I’m trying to give them extra cold things, ice cubes in their tray, frozen fruits and vegetables, etc, just to make the days bearable.

 

[Chookpoo]

My bantam chickens are about 19 weeks old and we are waiting on that egg but we are going on holiday
Soon so I might miss it