Why aren't they laying?

[kpsullivan]

Quote:
Congratulations!

 

[St George Farm]

Thanks to all for your help, please stand by....I'll have more questions for sure!

 

[CarolynF]

Congratulations!!!

And.... Welcome to BYC from the Pacific Northwest.

 

[St George Farm]

OK, sadly no egg this morning -

Right now the two dominant ones are back up inside the coop and squaking! What does that mean? Are they getting ready to lay?

 

[smokeykk]

Usually, if its a cluck cluck cluuuuuck sound they are, if they are laying down and are fluffed up that usually means yes they are getting ready

 

[St George Farm]

Bossy Pants was really squawking a bit ago so I went out and there was an egg! Yea! Light olive color.

 

[St George Farm]

Bossy Pants (the head chick!) is the only one laying of the 4 chickens that I got from the farm a week and a half ago. I think they are all about a year old but I'm not sure of the breed. When I picked them out I tried to get ones with little combs since I thought that indicated blue/green egg layers. Bossy Pants and Pearl are light colored (buff color) and Ruby is brownish - all with small combs. The other (Violet) is black and has almost no comb. I have 2 large nest boxes. We were originally going to have 4, but decided on two big ones. I has been hot and muggy, in the 90's, but BP is laying almost every day. What's up with the rest? Should I divide the nest boxes into 4? I noticed a few feathers in the coop this morning-just a few though.

 

[danielkbrantley]

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As a newbie, I'm not really qualified to answer, but here we go. I have 7 chickens with 2 nesting boxes, and mine are doing well. I originally had 4 boxes, but a more experienced chicken person said I didn't need so many. So I took two out and used that space to give them a bigger roost. For the nesting boxes, I'm using milk crates. They're about 12"X12". I don't know if it's possible to have your nesting boxes too large, but I imagine it is possible, as the hens like feeling cozy while getting rid of their eggs.

With regards to the other ones, I think it may still be a waiting game. My chickens just started laying, and only 4 of the 7 have started. I'm figuring the other 3 will kick in soon enough. Or maybe they're all laying, but just not every day.

Hope this helps some. From one newbie to another!

 

[St George Farm]

Thanks, you were right. I found another type of egg in the same nest box. This was light blue and smaller than the light green Jumbos. I guess they just need to settle in. Does the pecking order have anything to do with it? I would swear that the large light green eggs were from either of the first two in command. This little one might be the next in line?

 

[danielkbrantley]

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I have reached the extent of my knowledge. But I'm sure someone else can lend a hand here.