Why don't they lay?

[magikchick]

I have 19 hens and not one egg. They are about 16 weeks old and I see mating going on with the males. What is wrong here?

 

[Sam The Yam]

Patience!

 

[First To Hatch]

Quote:
16 weeks and no eggs they're coturnix right?

Assuming they are is it possible they don't have enough calcium, and if they do maybe they're eating them before you even get to them or see them.

 

[monarc23]

If they are coturnix like first to hatch said, somethings up... i'd assess what you're feeding them and how you may need to suppliment more

Protien higher than 20% is always good (higher the better)
you can suppliment this with boiled eggs if your feed doesnt offer it (the yolk especially)
ground or mositioned cat food given about once a week
insects like meal and wax worms

 

[farrier!]

Are you set up so the eggs roll away to safety? Is there a chance they are eating them?

 

[quailbrain]

You may want to increase calcium and protien in their feed (of course I'm not sure what your feeding so you may have already done this) Also, they prefer to have 14-18 hours of light before they lay. The light can be artifictial but they need a minimium amount to make them think it's the time of year to lay.

Hope this helps!

 

[magikchick]

Yes they are coturnix. They are on 24% protien and I give boiled eggs and cat food to them. They also get greens and fruit. They are outside so plenty of light. They are under a tree, don't know if that would cut the light too much.

 

[morninggloryhatchery]

Hmm. Mine also did this. I got them after a couple days of getting adjusted to their new home, start laying like crazy and then in a couple weeks they stop dead. No eggs for 7 weeks straight! And these guys are 6 months of age when i got them! Hope they start to lay soon!

 

[monarc23]

Quote:
argh... I know your problem. 6 month old hens are pretty old birds... and you're saying that they layed like crazy for a "couple of weeks" so lets say a month, and then they havent layed for 7 weeks straight, that's almost 2 months, that's about 9 month old birds. Most coturnix hens stop laying around then and some even die at "that old". That could be your personal issue here (personal as may not be the original posters issue but im betting that its yours).

 

[monarc23]

Quote:
My birds are in shade also but as long as there sun around them or flashing on them they are gettng what they need unless it's like an evergreen forest and they cant see the light lol. Your feeding and supplimenting sounds great... so my next assumption is they're moulting?