I purchased 6 Rhode Island Reds and 6 New Hampshire Red pullets born in May 08 and 6 Barred Rock Pullets born in August 08. I am feeding them a mix of 7 scratch and layer pellets, I have 8 nests and 2 roosts in my coop. coop is a 12 x 12x 8 with a door and a window and an outside run of 12 x 12 x 3. They have fresh food and water daily in the coop and in the run. I also have a RIR rooster also born in May. He is crowing now wasn't until about a month ago. We have straw on the floor of the coop and in the nests. When can I expect eggs from these breeds? Am I doing anything wrong? we do not have electricity in the coop so the only light is natural light. Window faces the east and door the west. Electricity is not an option until next year due to cost. the coop is in a 5 acre fenced area that houses 3 pigs separate and not within view of the chickens and 5 fainting goats who have a room next to the chickens. They share a wall. The chickens don't seem to be afraid of the goats as they are trying to sneek goat chow through the slats of the separator wall when ever they can. there is also 2 great pyrenees puppies who we are raising to be the guardians for all the animals in that area from preditors. They lay right next to the run and don't bark, or tease the chickens that I can tell. At least the chickens don't seem to pay them any mind. I go down each morning looking for eggs and instead I get other little (stinky gifts) in the nests. Any suggestions? Or am I just too impatient
When will my Hens begin Laying?
Mine hatched May 5, 2008 and haven't laid an egg yet. My ducks and goose from same date have now laid eggs so I would say any day now! Mine are Buff Orpingtons and New Hampshires.
MollyD
mine started laying at 16 weeks
I finally caught my BOs in the nest and figured out they were the ones laying the very large darker of the light brown eggs.. but as for the RIRs.. I still have not decided if they are roos yet.. I know that sounds funny, they are not crowing, and Phil (or Philly) stays with me constantly.. but acts more like a feminine roo than girly..I know that sounds funny.. but trust me.. I really mean feminine roo.. kind of manly with a soft side... neither of my RIR have ever stepped foot in the nesting boxes. They all had a hatch date of April 7th.
he looks like a roo to me
I was told to expect around 20 wks for by black sexlink and barred rocks. The crosses from them waited around 24, largely I think because of the season (end of summer/ molt. Not that they molted, but everyone's chickens seem to slack off around the same time regardless.
So are you saying, that even if, lets say the magic age is (pretend here for simplicity sake) the age is 16 weeks, but that 16 weeks lands in the middle of the fall (change of seasons) and NO CHICKEN would EVER lay in the fall, so my 16 week old girl who is now of age.. is now stalled purely by nature, ie fall and not age.
So a normal chicken will resume laying as soon as they adjust to the change of season, lets say a week or so.. my girl now being of age and assuming she is "normal" will assume (start) laying along with the older girls???????????????
Nothing quite so "written in stone" (I'm afraid of commitment, lol) but reading all these different posts and looking out in the hen house has made me kinda think it a plausible explanation. The {{NO CHICKEN would EVER lay in the fall}} was pure Fran. I decline all responsibility for that one. It just wouldn't surprise me if the young ones aren't affected by this apparent 'natural' slacking off period.
I claim "PURE" ignorance!
!?! Well I never said never...
Well I was told my ducks and geese wouldn't lay an egg till spring and apparently they hadn't read the manual! LOL
MollyD
Thanks for the information. From the responses I am gathering that there are age guidelines and seasonal flucuations that can effect those guidelines but each hen is unique just like coming of age for a girl can be unique even between sisters (LOL) sounds like I will just need to be patient. Thanks bunches.
You got it! ^_^
MollyD
How perfectly worded.. wish I had said that.
Fran, my foot is STILL in my mouth, lol.
Mine too grow
one thing i have learned
*you can't rush mother nature*