My mom emailed me today "Any eggs yet?"
I replied "Nope."
She emailed back, "What's wrong with those chickens?"
I told her that I have been very direct in telling the hens that we expect eggs, but what else can I do? They are eating well, they have a nice coop and I do what I can for them.
I have had my three chickens for 4.5 weeks now. On Dec 26, they'll be 23 weeks old. (actually 23 to 27 weeks old.) Usually hens start laying eggs at 24 weeks of age, but they often stop laying in the winter when light is dim and snow limits their exersize. ..... I can see that the hens have grown in size since i got them. And their feahters have filled out quite a bit.
We sure are looking forward to omelets...
Some times because of the low temperature the chickens don't give eggs.
ReplyDeleteMake the temperature higher or make patience and the eggs will come.Don't worry.
My neighbor has chickens (we're in Arlington) and she says hers stopped laying a few weeks ago and maybe all winter she'll get 2 or 3 eggs total. But you have nice young birds, maybe they'll be more prolific soon!
ReplyDeleteYou may not get any eggs until late winter/early spring. They don't usually stop laying completely over winter, but they do slow down A LOT! The one nice thing about getting your chickens in the fall is that they should start laying full blast once spring rolls around!
ReplyDeleteWell, I gave them a nice thick layer of fresh straw in their nesting boxes today. And I told them every day will be longer from here on in. The last two days have been warm - in the 50s. I'll check for eggs tomorrow. I can't imagine what it will be like to see a fresh laid egg for the first time. I'll probably scream and scare all the neighbors.
ReplyDeleteWe have a light on a timer that comes on at 3 am in the henhouse and rungoes off when the sun comes up. This keeps our two and three year old chickens laying, and would probably help your ladies get started. Enjoy that first tiny egg!
ReplyDeleteI have a light on a timer. It runs 6 to 8 am and 4 to 6 pm. So they have 12 hours of light 6 to 6.
ReplyDeleteYesterday I put some nice hay in their nesting boxes on top of the wood shavings. It looks clean and comfy. Maybe they will like this. I haven't checked the yet today
My little birds started laying at 20 and 21 weeks. They are average sized chickens-a Dominique, buff orpington, and speckled sussex, and it's hardly been above zero where we live for the past 3 weeks with many of our days being in the -20's. In their barn it ranges from 10 to the usual 20 to 25 degrees. They have light 24/7 via these little white Christmas lights along one wall, but nothing real fancy. I'm now getting an egg a day from all 3...they all lay their eggs behind this crate by one of the walls so I find them all together each evening. They refuse to use their nest boxes...I'm working on putting fake eggs in there to help them get the idea that's what they're for. I'm actually giving some eggs away as "Christmas presents" I'm getting so many now. Take heart--if my gals can start laying in the heart of our Northern Minnesota winter your's are going to go gangbusters soon!
ReplyDeleteAh, maybe my girls need Christmas lights!
ReplyDeleteI brought them some oatmeal this morning for breakfast and noticed they had cleared all of the nice fresh straw out of the nest boxes. It's all scattered on the coop floor now and the boxes are pretty much bare again. I guess if they decide to lay in the boxes, it'll be on bare wood.
My birds laid their first egg exactly 6 months from hatching. I have had 3 batches of babies and they all are the same. I have never used lights with them. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteMy birds laid their first egg exactly 6 months from hatching. I have had 3 batches of babies and they all are the same. I have never used lights with them. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteSix months is about 25 weeks. My girls are getting there. I'm sure they will lay soon. Any day now.....
ReplyDeleteDid your girls lay their eggs yet? I want to get chickens in the springtime
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