Pullet taking ages to come into lay....

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Nick

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Hello all!
Following my fox attack a couple of months ago, I got a nice new set of pullets from Chalk hill poultry. I think he said they were 14 weeks old
This was on the 18th May, so 8 weeks ago.
The chalk hill blue started laying lovely (rather small) blue eggs about 3-4 weeks ago (18/19 weeks old).
After a bit of a false start with soft shells, the Bluebelle has been laying very well (massive double yolkers in the main) for 2 weeks (20 weeks of age, but she started laying the soft shelled eggs about 2 weeks earlier).
I'm just left with a speckledy, who has a reasonably red comb - not very big, but I think thats the breed - who is showing no signs of laying yet.
is 22 weeks too young for me to start worrying?
Of course, the very act of asking the question will make her start laying this afternoon..

Thanks all!!

Nick
 
I wouldn't be concerned at your hybrids which are not in lay yet..not at 22 weeks certainly. Just make sure they are on a good quality layers pellets now and no treats, such as scraps or mixed corn. This is the time they need to build calcium reservoirs in their bones for egg laying later on.
I would keep an eye on your pullet laying these large double yolkers followed by soft shelled eggs though, as the egg could be shooting through the reproductive system too quickly which may just mean her system is settling down or there is a egg shell gland fault. Personally I don't like my pullets coming into lay too early and rather that they mature properly first.
 
Thanks for the reassurance.
They are free ranging, so at this time of year they arent eating huge ammounts of the layer pellets, however they do seem to be snaffling quite a lot of oyster shell. I guess they get all they need from the allotment, but need the extra calcium boost...
 
I think it was quite surprising that two of them were in lay by around 18 weeks, I wouldn't expect them to start before 22+ weeks. The Speckledy I once had (also from Chalk Hill) didn't start until about 26 weeks, if I remember rightly. Certainly no need to worry at this stage, especially in these hot conditions, when they need all their resources and water intake just to keep themselves going, without making eggs as well. As Foxy says, within limits its good for them to be a bit slower to start in lay and have the time to mature properly. Chicks hatched later in the summer often don't start until the next Spring, and although you have to feed them all winter and it can get frustrating, they can grow into good strong birds which lay really well once they get going.
 
After Icemaidens request, I've posted some pics on the pictures board.
Thanks Marigold - I thought the blubelle had blown a gasket this morning, she laid two eggs, both soft shelled, one in the nestbox and one on the ground. She was found asleep under a bush when I went up to let them out.
She seems fine now tho - although very hot - she sometimes holds her wings away from her body, I think to keep cool!!
Poor beasts...
 
Golly! No wonder she fell asleep! She certainly does seem to be having problems getting as far as normal laying, doesn't she? Too many at once, and not properly shell coated. You will need to keep a careful eye on her, in case she prolapses, or n case a soft-shelled egg breaks inside her on the way out, which could be fatal. I hope she manages some normal, single- yolked eggs, just one a day would be fine, preferably with shells on!
 
She is giving me a bit of headache - I'm certainly keeping an eye on her - although from what I read, there is not a great deal one can do about either prolapse or an internal egg breaking other than being ready to but them out of their misery....
I really hope she gets it riught - I'm putting a handful of oyster shell in with their food, to make sure they have easy access too it - although as I say, they free range so most of their diet is grass, dandilions, flies and strawberries if they manage to get under my strawberry cage!!I've got chicks wandering round with them too, so there are some chick crumbs that they eat from time to time.
I think she just needs to stop trying to lay two eggs a day, and all will be well!
 
We had soft egg problems with a Bluebelle Nick. Never really resolved them and eventually despatched because of the constant mess in the nest boxes.

Prolapses can be treated successfully. I posted the story of Elisa, who is laying monster eggs again without problems so far.
 
Oh dear - I do hope it doesn't come to that. Come to think of it the other bluebelle I had has serious problems coming into lay - she laid the largest egg I have ever seen, over 100g!

This one laid another softie this morning - but it didn't break, so no mess.I'll read up on the prolapse thread, just in case...
 
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