Help for a new chicken keeper

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Hi all,

Wanting some assistance and information about laying chickens. I'm a brand new chicken keeper and have converted an old childrens cubby house into a chicken coup measuring about 5x3m total including run. We have purchased 6 "point of lay" ISA Browns.

My first question is about laying eggs. They have been in the coup since Tuesday and as of Sunday there were no eggs yet. Is this normal? My first thought is that the hens may just be to young as of yet. They were meant to be POL hens but im thinking that might still be a few weeks off. Does anyone else have any other suggestions??

Also in regards to lighting, we generally have about 11 hours during winter (we are in Australia). Is there any thoughts on how many hours of light the chickens will need to lay? Is 11 enough?

Any assistance on these would be great. Thanks
 
I'd give them a bit of time to settle in before they start laying. Also its your winter there so that may delay them coming in to lay.

POL is around 20 weeks but can very. Its not a hard and fast rule.

I'd just ensure they get out and about as early as possible and let them have as much natural light as possible. I've never had to use artificial lighting as once my chooks come in to lay they tend to do so during daylight hours, even in winter. Of course, some breeds lay less in winter or stop laying altogether during the coldest darkest months. Its perfectly normal for egg production to drop off during winter months, even in the good layers.
 
Well in general POL pullets can range from 18-21 weeks, here in uk we come off growers pellets at 18 weeks on to layers pellets. To get them ready for laying. Some breeds can go to 25 weeks so dont worry too much.
Look for the combs getting redder on fire they are going to lay soon also if a hen drops to the floor when you put your hand on her back she will lay very soon.
In the nest box put a dummy egg to give them the idea where to lay, a hard boild egg can be used if you cannot get a plastic/china egg.
they can take a week to settle into a new home so dont worry too much. Lot to learn where the food is and water where to sleep big adventure for them.
 
snifter said:
POL is around 20 weeks but can very. Its not a hard and fast rule.
Click to expand...

Yes, I've seen people selling 12 week old Orpingtons as 'POL' - It's one of those things that doesn't really mean what you think it should mean :?

As for lighting, I think it's about 15 or 16 hours a hen needs - but it does vary between breeds and good laying strains will start laying earlier in the Spring and lay later into the winter.

There's an article on the main site about lighting for chickens that you may want to read.

Personally, I never add artificial light.

It is useful to have some young layers starting to lay for the first time just before the winter as they should lay through the winter if they are a good egg laying strain like the ISA browns. This is because they will not moult during the first winter.

Let us know how you get on and welcome to the wonderful hobby!

Tim
 
Thanks for all the information guys! Do you need to lock up your hens in the coup of the nite? Mine are free to run around in the pen all the time and don't get shut up of a night. Should i?
 
I'm not sure what predators you have in Aus - but foxes, possoms (I think), badgers are the main worries... so possibly.

Over here we need to lock our birds up or put them behind an electric fence to stop foxes and badgers.

Tim
 
Tim you forgot to mention, the two legged foxes, they prowl at night.
 
ladychick said:
Tim you forgot to mention, the two legged foxes, they prowl at night.
Click to expand...


Yes of course! We do from time to time have birds stolen over here - quite often show birds that are valuable. :(

Tim
 
haha yes, we have foxes in my neighbourhood. we aren't exactly in the country, more like suburbs. so foxes are the main worry, we have run the chicken wire along the ground about 120cms in and its nailed into the ground so no foxes will get in, the enclosure also has a "lid" as my mother was firmly convinced that they'd fly off. which i doubt. we definatly don't have badgers here in aus.. ive noticed that there are one or two that sit down randomly inside the outer enclosure and the others surround that hen as if protectively. is that a sign that they are going to lay soon, or is it just normal social behavior?
 
I'd say it's just random behaviour personally.

Watch for the combs going dark red - when they are really red, they will lay.

Foxes are - errrm well cunning - as they say and I've seen a determined fox (during a harsh winter with snow on the ground) tear chicken wire (the 1 inch stuff) apart to get at the chooks with his teeth. Any weakness is bound to be found.

Sounds like you've done a great job on your run though.

Tim
 
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