when will they start laying

[hawkeye185]

Hi to everyone
I have had eleven pol chucks that are 20 weeks old and I have only had 2 small but perfectly formed eggs!
am i bieng impatient or will things pick up soon ?
will hard boiled eggs in the boxes help to speed things up
any advice will be welcome
cheers.

 

[dinosaw]

In short yes your being impatient, and no, boiled eggs will not speed things up. Could take up to 26-28 weeks for them to lay depending on what you've got, with 20-24 being usual for hybrids.

 

[Marigold]

I think you were very lucky to get any eggs at all by 20 weeks! As Dinosaw says, just be patient, they'll lay in their own good time, they are still growing and maturing and you can't hurry that. No point putting eggs in the boxes, just watch out for them exploring the boxes and then eggs will soon follow when they do this. At least a couple of them are setting a good example!

 

[graham]

Hi,I often find especially with pure breeds just as I get to the point of giving up and thinking they will never lay they suddenly do.

Graham.

 

[chrismahon]

We had a Wyandotte called Mavis who decided to start laying at over 30 weeks -we didn't think she was ever going to!

 

[Wrigley62]

I think you were very lucky to get any eggs at all by 20 weeks! As Dinosaw says, just be patient, they'll lay in their own good time, they are still growing and maturing and you can't hurry that. No point putting eggs in the boxes, just watch out for them exploring the boxes and then eggs will soon follow when they do this. At least a couple of them are setting a good example!

Hey Hawkeye, I did just what Marigold said to do, and Shazaam, we got our first egg. I opened up the boxes, they went in looking around, two days later we got an egg. I know that we are the "exception to the rule", everything I've read and been told says don't expect anything before atleast twenty weeks. We got very lucky (16 1/2 weeks old).

Listen to me, I'm talking like I'm one of you "Seasoned" Chicken People You guys are all GREAT!! 08 08 08