chickens not laying yet..
- Thread starter kbs_05
- Start date
Hi kbs and welcome to the Forum.
Do you remember the date in January that they hatched - was it early or late in the month? This might make up to 4 weeks difference in their age now. Also, what breed are they? Hybrids often come into lay by about 20 - 24 weeks, but for many purebreds it can be much later, between 24 - 28+ weeks. If they hatched in January they are about 6 months old, perhaps, about normal for POL. If their combs are becoming red you may not have very long to wait. Have they started inspecting the nestboxes yet? Or do they crouch when you put a hand over their backs, because they are hoping for the attentions of a cockerel? These are other signs that lay won't be long coming.
Patience, patience! And do let us know more about them, and how they get on.
Do you remember the date in January that they hatched - was it early or late in the month? This might make up to 4 weeks difference in their age now. Also, what breed are they? Hybrids often come into lay by about 20 - 24 weeks, but for many purebreds it can be much later, between 24 - 28+ weeks. If they hatched in January they are about 6 months old, perhaps, about normal for POL. If their combs are becoming red you may not have very long to wait. Have they started inspecting the nestboxes yet? Or do they crouch when you put a hand over their backs, because they are hoping for the attentions of a cockerel? These are other signs that lay won't be long coming.
Patience, patience! And do let us know more about them, and how they get on.
they where hatched on the 6th of jan. the breeds are 3 light sussex 1 orpington 1 maran 2 goldtops 1 rir bantam some do croutch when you pickd them up would the two ducks in there house make any odd should i move the ducks to a different house will they be putting them off.
Well, you could always try moving the ducks if you have got room elsewhere for them. There can be problems keeping them with chickens anyway, as they need a source of water to dabble in, so the run gets muddier and messier for the hens. How big is the run? For eight hens you need at least 16 square metres of floor space, plus extra for the ducks, which need ore than 2 sq. metres each. Overcrowding causes stress, which can affect laying.
thank i will move the ducks to a seperate house tommorow the run is huge u would hardly know the birds where in there and i plan to make it bigger to increase my numbers a bit. i make the runs out of pen.sections i get off of a gamekeeper friend i have they seem pretty good
You're lucky to have so much space. I would think keeping the ducks in the part with the pond wold be a good idea, for them as well as the chickens.
Do let us know when you get the first egg, it can't be long now, surely! I suppose there's no possibility, in a run of that size, that they've found somewhere else to lay?
Do let us know when you get the first egg, it can't be long now, surely! I suppose there's no possibility, in a run of that size, that they've found somewhere else to lay?
cherrycoop
New member
Just so you have some comparison, my RIR bantam hatched 24 Jan and I have had 3 eggs from her this week. I am sure your hen will be laying very soon, especially if they have a cosy nest box.
17 .
Great, I hope the others will soon follow her example!
