Am I doing anything wrong?

[Daffodilly]

Afternoon everyone! Ive just popped on for a bit more of your wonderful advice

Ive had my girlies for 3 weeks now and they havent laid anything..??

Well, one laid in the cardboard box on the way home the day I picked them up, and again 2 days later but since then....nothing. Dont get me wrong, mine are primarily pets but eggs was going to be a delicious bonus! I have 3 hens, I was told when I bought them that they were 18-20 weeks. They have a coop with a house, nest box and run, but they are let out round the garden every day where they love to peck and scrut about. The have perches in their house, although given the choice they will sleep in the straw in the nestboxes! I have tried putting a couple of golf balls in...and theyre not laying any eggs around the garden as I check....is this normal?? thanks in advance xx

[Daffodilly]

Oh forgot to say, incase it makes any difference...(as you can tell, I am very new to all this!) one is a ginger Ranger, one is a CouCou and the other (that laid in the cardboard box) is (i cant remember the name...) she is black and when the sun hits her tails feathers there are green tints and she has a large ginger chest! and they are fed on layers mash and corn mixed with grit/oyster shell out if they want it..think thats everything!

[Daffodilly]

Oh forgot something else! sorry...the one that has laid before in the box like I said, she has started getting herself in a low down - wings out position when I stroke her back, she has been doing this for about 4-5 days...right thats definitely all I can tell you now!

[chris]

It's probably down to their new environment, stress of moving, etc. Small things can set them off lay for a while.

The squat is a good sign (ready to be mounted) so it sounds as if eggs will be on their way soon!

[RichmondHens]

It's a bit hit and miss as to whether they will start up or not this late in the season. As they are hybrids then in theory they should, and the squatting one who has laid will probably lay again, but it's now getting quite chilly and the days significantly shorter and even if a hen is point of lay, which yours are, there is no guarantee they will come into lay at this time of year. I would say don't expect regular eggs till January but you may well be surprised with the odd few between now and Christmas. To get a winter laying hen they really need to be hatched in March to hit the 26 week mark in September and thus get into a regular laying cycle before the season turns. Anything hatched later than that gets to POL just as the days get shorter and weather colder, which is almost guaranteed to delay the start of lay.

[Daffodilly]

Thanks guys, reassured again! At least I know the reasons now, I always worry its something Im not doing right for them. Thank you xx

[Suechooks]

I'd cut out the corn and just feed the layers ration. A tiny sprinkle of corn late afternoon is fine but not mixed with the layers mash. They'll just pick out the corn first.

[Daffodilly]

Someone else told me that but to be honest, if anything, its the corn they seem to chuck out first onto the floor, but generally everything gets eaten up. Ill keep an eye on it though! Thank you xx

[baldrick]

I'd cut out the corn and just feed the layers ration. A tiny sprinkle of corn late afternoon is fine but not mixed with the layers mash. They'll just pick out the corn first.

meanie! meanie! cruel chickenmummy!

[Suechooks]

meanie! meanie! cruel chickenmummy!

I don't always practice what I preach as you well know!!!!

[petal]

our 4 hybrids are 25 weeks old and just starting to get into a regular laying cycle, if thats any help. We keep 4 hybrids for our winter eggs when the posh breeds are sulking.

[Daffodilly]

Update! I had a little egg yesterday! and another slightly bigger today and todays was even in the nest box! xx

[chris]

I got mine last October when they were 17 weeks old.. they laid right through the harsh weather, snow and biting winds - was great