When will my chickens lay eggs?
Posted by Fiona Nevile in Chickens | 661 comments
Even though I know that egg laying is unpredictable at this time of year, it’s always a bit disappointing when I lift the lid of the nesting box and there’s only one. An egg from Carol. She is firing on all cylinders now and producing one egg a day, the maximum that a domestic hen can produce.
“What’s going on with the other four chickens?” I think as I stump back through the garden in my dressing gown and wellies.
The other four chickens are elderly maidens, well into their third year. I know that after two years egg production diminishes but somehow I hoped that the organic food and beautiful adornments in the pen might make a difference. Of course they don’t. As the years roll by, the chickens will produce fewer and fewer eggs until they go to that great pecking ground in the sky.
The pretty white bantams, have never been very obliging on the egg laying front. In their prime, they probably only laid two or three eggs a week. They are not a laying strain and we knew this when we bought them. But we have discovered that they are very photogenic and are happy to model endlessly.
I’ve been checking the hen’s combs. A pink comb indicates that a chicken is going broody, and will not lay. They are all a bright vibrant red, including Mrs Boss (this chicken won The Broodiest of all Known Chickens Award 2004, 2005 and 2006).
So you can imagine my delight when I lifted the roof of the nesting box this morning and found two small eggs nestling beside Carol’s large speckled brown one. I sprang back to the kitchen to make the perfect breakfast omelette.
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Peace and harmony has been restored! Our Light Sussex is no longer broody and the other hens are happy to have her around. We adapted a metal dog crate and put her within the run so she could see the others and they could see her, naturally sheltering her from the elements by putting a tarpaulin over the roof of the run. Thank you for the sound advice.
Hi Travis
Yes the red combs indicate that they are maturing and getting ready to lay eggs.
Hi Jane
Is her comb still red? The comb changing colour to pink is a good indicator that she is going broody.
Bullying will happen. But there are things that you can do to distract the hens. Putting a football in the run is good one or hanging a cabbage so the hens have to jump and stretch to reach it, also seems to work.
We also have another shelter that Danny bought when he saw that the bullied chickens were standing out in the rain.
Hi Helen
Any change will probably put the hens off lay for a bit but they will settle down again. I find that virtually everything effects laying from the weather to a change in feed!
Thanks for your advice re laying.
Hi travis. Yes this is exactly what it means. My 3 suusex hens are 22 weeks now and 2 have started to lay this week its so exciting Good luck and keep checking. REMEMBER to leave them quiet when they are laying they like it quiet and dark.
I have a question for you pros out there, I have 3 hens all sussex, The thing is they are 23 weeks now have just started laying. The problem we have is holidays, When we go away for a week soon will they be ok to be moved to my parents house who have a chicken coop or will this put them off lay. Dont want to mess them about now they have started laying
Thanks xxxx
We have 4 Warrens and 2 Light Sussex hens all bought in February this year. I have noticed that the largest Light Sussex has been spending more time in the nest box than before so I thought she might be broody but more concerning is the fact that when she does come out into the run one of the Warrens pecks at her and she becomes very anxious. I can’t decide whether she is broody or just trying to avoid the Warren. Do you have any suggestions?
Hello everyone.. I have 30 pullets.. 12 buff orps, 12 black australorps, 5 barred rocks and 1 white rock.. I noticed today that some of the combs on the buffs are starting to get really red including wattles and around eyes. Is this a sign they could be getting ready to lay? They are about 5 months.
Hello Gary
That sound wonderful. I wish my chickens did that!
I know Magic Cochin’s chickens fly into her arms.
I suppose chickens like most of us, enjoy a cuddle and a bit of affection.
Thanks for sharing.
As I have posted earlier we are new to chicken keeping , we have 3 , 1 brown ranger and 2 ambers , we free range them round the garden most of the time , I was just wondering if anyone else has what can only be described as a lap chicken ,every time my wife sits in the garden one off our ambers (postman pat’s her name my son’s only 3 and chose the name himself) jumps on her lap and sits there like a cat while she strokes it , it’s hilarious to watch but I didn’t think chickens were that friendly , I would love to hear any other stories people have
Hi Carol
Good idea. Hope that you don’t have to wait too soon for the first egg.
Hi
Thanks, think I’ll leave the worming unless I see some evidence of them. Will just enjoy watching them for now and wait for my first egg 🙂