At last!

[Anni D]

Well after seven months of waiting we were beginning to think Queenie was never going to give us an egg. Suddenly a few days ago there was a beautiful pale blue egg - at last! Not sure we will ever get another one, but at least we know she can do it. Well done Queenie.

 

[chrismahon]

Well done Queenie!

We've had late laying hens in the past AnniD and they have then gone on to lay well for years. I think it does them good to start late because they are then fully developed and strong. You should now find that the egg size begins to increase- perhaps up 30% over the next dozen?

 

[ColinB]

Good news - and a lovely looking chick she is, too. We've got 3 out of 4 youngsters laying at the moment with egg sizes varying from 48g to 78g. The 78g was a triple yolker!

 

[Anni D]

The funny thing is, her whole personality seems to have changed! She has always been very wary and nervous - suddenly she is really friendly and will eat out of our hands - something we have never been able to persuade her to do. She is currently making a lot of noise and in and out of the nest box for the past two hours, so I'm hoping this is a good sign and w might get a second egg.

 

[Anni D]

Well, that was short lived. She laid every other day for about three weeks and has now stopped again!

 

[Marigold]

The days are getting shorter and with less light to stimulate their hormones, most mature hens slow down or stop laying until the New Year. Give her time - she may never be a brilliant layer but should start up again when there's more daylight. You know she can do it - and at least she won't be one of those girls who wear themselves out producing a daily egg for the first couple of years!

 

[rick]

After a couple of soft shelled eggs my CLB has quit laying for the year as well.
No lights at all this year - determined to give them a proper natural rest but in a few weeks time I'll be poop picking with a torch except at the weekend.

 

[Marigold]

At least most of it gets dropped under the perches in the coop on the short days - much easier to locate.
I'm glad I got that couple of young pullets in August, both are laying daily and should carry on all winter, I hope. My 3- year - old hybrid is also managing 3-4 per week and shows no signs of moulting.

 

[Anni D]

I have noticed she has started losing a lot of feathers recently. Being a newbie to chickens, I haven't yet experienced any moulting, so I am assuming this is the start?

 

[chrismahon]

She won't moult until she is 18 months old AnniD, then every 12 months after. Possible it is a lice problem so worth checking? Could be she is being bullied and feathers eaten? Could be she is actually 18 months old now- how old was she when you bought her?

 

[Anni D]

I believe she was 12 months when we got her, so she probably is about 18 months now. She's definitely not being bullied and no signs of lice.