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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Hiya everyone
we bought 3 Isa brown point of lay chickens about 3-4 weeks ago and have settled them into the coup and the garden, they are fascinating to watch and are freindly enough, we have no eggs as yet but one of them is suddenly(these last two days) acting strange, she is keeping herself away from the others and goes off to bed sooner than them too, is she just being unsociable or is this normal behaviour when they are ready to lay, my hubby is convinced that hormones are involved as he has three more girls in the family! She seems to be eating ok, layers pellets and kitchen scraps, any ideas welcome please
Hi JoJo
They will lay evetually. The shortening days will not help on the egg laying front. You might have to wait until January before you get your first egg.
Hi Lisa09
If they are all ex battery hens they are likely to be about 2 years old. At this time of year in the UK our hens stop laying for the winter.
They will lay eggs but you might have to wait until the days start to get longer again.
hi i have just saved4 hens from being locked up and they are now roaming my garden i have had them a week but no eggs think they bout 1 year old red crest on all of them they were x battery will i get a egg please ????
Hi im new to chickens and have 2 welsummers in a triangular shaped hut on the ground. It has an indoor and outdoor section, in the indoor bit i have shavings on the ground and straw at one end and a perch. They eat a mix of layers pellets and mixed grain and leftovers. We got them in may at 5 weeks and they are now about 6 months, and as yet they havent laid. Any reasons as to why? One chicken looks more developed or ‘grown up’ then the other, ie it has the red crest on head and dangly bits under chin (sorry dont know the proper terms) they are both def girls, as we had 3 to start with and one was a cock so we got rid of it.
Hi Jill
I don’t have any experience with ex battery hens so can’t help. Sorry.
Hi Sue B.
If you put a sign on your gate stating you have ‘free’ chicken muck available, every gardner/allotment holder in your area will descend on you. Chicken muck is the best fertiliser you can put on your garden. I have no trouble whatsoever disposing of mine. They even bring their own bags!!!
Hi . I have 4 ex battery hens. had them 10 days, and got about 2 eggs a day for 5 days, now nothing. Am I likely to get any eggs over the winter? I am feeding ex bat crumb and grit. They are free range during most of the day
thanx for the advice, i think it is due to their first moult, but am getting some mite spray/powder just incase. this is a brilliant site thankyou soooo much.
Hi got 5 Hens and a Cock a few weeks ago they were between 18/20 weeks old so looking forward to my first eggs. Lost one of the hens yesterday a white sussex found her in a hole at the base of the footings of a new conservatory seems very broody so think she may be getting ready to lay my first egg. The hens are all different breeds and get on really well together.
Question whats the best thing to do with the old straw and waste?
Hi Susie & Fn
Im in Melbourne, Australia..
Thanks for your response..much appreciated
Im so happy with my girls since they’re both started laying..