Novice Chicken Keeper - when will my hen lay?

[Anonymous]

Hi there,

We bought our chickens (3) a week last Saturday and so far we've had over 20 eggs. I've got a White Star (Leghorn), a Speckaldy and a Black Rock. My White Star and my Speckaldy have layed eggs nearly everyday apart from one but we don't seem to be getting any from Flora our Black Rock. I know I've probably been spoilt by the other two laying so many so early on - I didn't expect any eggs for about 2 weeks to be honest. Is there any reason why Flora might not be laying like the other two? It may seem a silly question to some of you but I'm a novice at this and learning everyday! Thanks M

 

[Rebelodicus]

LOl... Spoiling the others and not "Flora the Black Rock ?" ... That seems to be the lot for Black Rocks. They seem to suffer from a lack of personality and thereby notoriety as an individual. (jmho)

Our girls "Yolk" and "Shell". Black Rock Hens that keep themselves to themselves and are very chilled ... but "The light is on and no ones in" lol. The Ex-Bats and Buff Orp Cock are all full of attitude and personality. It really shows up.

The breed are said to do 280 eggs in a good year ... they veritably shoot 'em out. Maybe bit's o' personality go with each one... 11

A pullet (young female) starts laying at about 20-24 weeks old iirc. 05 But that's no surety if things are amiss with something. Maybe she's bottom of the pecking order and intimidated out of laying on time ? 11

Seriously though. My Black Rocks are fine little ladies with a quiet disposition that lay regularly and good. They have just gone into moult (I recon) because they have stopped laying for the first time and look scruffy as Hades.


EDIT:- Are the others older ?

 

[Aileen]

compare her comb to the others... the general rule of thumb is the redder the better, if its paler shes just not quite there yet.. givie it a week or 2

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for your replies, it makes sense now. Flora does appear to be bottom of the pecking order and seems to be quite happy sitting under the tree out of the way of the other two or just mooching about. Her comb is very small just starting to appear whilst the others are bigger and pinker. As they came from the same barn at the breeders I'd assumed they were the same age but she is probably younger.

Monks