willl i ever have eggs?

[daphneysmamma]

We have 8 hens 1 is about 5-6 months others 4-5 months old...they have a coop and straw n heat light n a run and they free range most dsys. They eat scratch and veggies with various scraps and have recently added laying mash...what is wrong ? R they still too young..o do they need a designated nest area?

 

[gamebirdsonly]

Depending on the breeds you have they may take up to 7 to 9 months to lay. Most seem to lay right around 24 to 27 weeks old.

 

[ChickensRDinos]

6 months is a good average buts its only an average and there are lots of factors. Between 4-8 months is still the normal range for most birds. Keep in mind that laying feed is FOR laying birds it does not help birds lay. Without a designated nest they are going to lay where ever they decide and it might be in the middle of the run or somewhere hard to get to.

 

[daphneysmamma]

If I make nest spot how do they know to go there?...o the breeds r 1 orpington mix..1 gold wyndott,1 silver wyndotte,1 Brahma,4 barred rocks

 

[ChickensRDinos]

They instinctually want to lay eggs in a place that feels safe, dark and protected so any sort of standard nest box should naturally appeal to them. If you want to be extra sure you can put a fake egg or a golf ball in the nest. If it looks like another hen is laying there and has deemed it a good spot then they will want to lay there also.

 

[daphneysmamma]

OK ty very much ..I shall start a new project