Lazy Buff Orpingtons- 36 weeks old and not 1 egg!!!

[Alastair]

Short of showing them how well they fit into a casserole dish, has anyone got any ideas/explanations as to why at 36 weeks we have not had a single egg from our lazy buffs. Our 3 year old hybrids have just started producing again to add insult to injury! I wasn't really expecting much over winter but thought I might have seen something by now. They are fed on smallholder layers pellet, corn for a treat and garden/kitchen scraps when available. altough they were supplied as six eight week old hens we do in fact have 3 boys!! Any one got any ideas how to 'encourage' them?

[NOG]

They should be able to tell at 1 day old the sex of a bird. Was the seller trust worthy?

Try putting a light in the coop for a couple of hours a day to make the day longer that should make them lay.

[frias]

I'm sorry to break the news but you are never going to get eggs from those boys!

[Bephlam]

Am I reading this right?? You're wanting to know when you should expect eggs from boys??

If I have read it right...you can forget ever getting eggs from your boys. So, maybe the big casserole dish is less of a joke than you think.

[Bephlam]

Ok, re-read the post - you have 6 orps...but three are in fact boys!! Ok, so forget ever getting eggs from them (I would get rid of two and keep one if I wanted a boy)...and perhaps try to encourage your girls with some artificial light in their coup in the morning (to prolong their sunlight). I'd also ensure you're not over feeding them...orps are lazy birds, and prone to being fat. Fat girls won't lay...so that's something to bear in mind.

Good luck...

[Suechooks]

Short of showing them how well they fit into a casserole dish, has anyone got any ideas/explanations as to why at 36 weeks we have not had a single egg from our lazy buffs. Our 3 year old hybrids have just started producing again to add insult to injury! I wasn't really expecting much over winter but thought I might have seen something by now. They are fed on smallholder layers pellet, corn for a treat and garden/kitchen scraps when available. altough they were supplied as six eight week old hens we do in fact have 3 boys!! Any one got any ideas how to 'encourage' them?

I knew someone with Orps and they completely stopped laying for the winter and started again about February. I appreciate yours have yet to start but maybe they just need more time.

[Noodle]

They could just need more time as they are such a large bird. I have an Opie hybrid that didn't start laying until 38 weeks and she still only gives us about 3 a week! Fingers crossed they will start soon.

Not sure how you'd tell the sex at one day old unless they are sex linked chickens which Orpington's aren't!

[Bephlam]

I wish all birds could be sexed at 1 day!! Would make life so much easier, wouldn't it?

[Flummery]

It's the pure breeds that don't lay so much, and go on strike in the winter. They live longer than hybrids all told though. That's one of the choices you make when you pick between hybrids or pure breeds

[Noodle]

I wish all birds could be sexed at 1 day!! Would make life so much easier, wouldn't it?

It might do, but not sure I could cull a day old! I guess you have more time to find them homes though!

[Alastair]

Thanks for the advice people. Unfortunately there is no power supply to put a light up. Are there any solar/battery powered lights on the market which would do the job?? We do have a security light up (which is motion controlled) to deter/make an easy shot for when Mr. Fox comes calling. Perhaps I should adjust the beam onto the Orps and hope the fox calls more regularly??
Thanks NOG. I think the seller was trustworthy but I guess you can never tell until you get fooled!

Will let everybody know if I get eggs from the boys I sense a money making opportunity here

[Hilary B]

It might do, but not sure I could cull a day old! I guess you have more time to find them homes though!

The day-old cockerels whose sisters will grow into commercial egg machines end up as food for hawks, mongooses, etc in captivity.

[frias]

Thanks for the advice people. Unfortunately there is no power supply to put a light up. Are there any solar/battery powered lights on the market which would do the job?? We do have a security light up (which is motion controlled) to deter/make an easy shot for when Mr. Fox comes calling. Perhaps I should adjust the beam onto the Orps and hope the fox calls more regularly??
Thanks NOG. I think the seller was trustworthy but I guess you can never tell until you get fooled!

Will let everybody know if I get eggs from the boys I sense a money making opportunity here

I bought a solar shed light to put in the coop. Not to help egg laying as we get plenty but so my girls could see to get on the perches. (they won't perch) It was hysterical as all the girls went up the ramp to bed, found it lighter in the coop than in the run so all came out of coup again, only to find the run in darkness. Got very confusing when half the girls were going up the ramp and the other half trying to come down again.This went on until I switched the light off. It's not even a very bright light.

[-pat m]

Hi My Orps are a similar age and they started lying last week so hand on it will happen! We have gone from 1-2 eggs a day three weeks ago right up to 18 -20 so there must be something happening with the weather. I did find the Orpington’s trying to lay in unusual places but now the hybrids are laying in the nesting boxes the orps are following suit.....even queuing up much more polite than the hybrids who push in!

Pat