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 – we live town and have neighbours on all sides, i have 2 hens and had them from chicks last may – they didnt start laying until about 2-3 weeks ago!! But they too have had a few days lately where they have squawked and clucked like you wouldnt believe. I havent had complaints but most people will have been able to hear it…. but they seemed to coincide with them starting to lay for first time, as if they are freaking out and dont know whats happening to them. I have one that jumps in and out all day long and kicks out all the straw and bedding prior to laying its egg at teatime! Crazy thing, but they are settling down now and i havent heard them go mad for a while now – so this could be the prob with yours, they are just settling into laying and im sure if you explain to the neighbours that the noise is only a tempory thing and promise a few eggs once they get going they should shut up!!
I just got some day old rhode island red chicks and i was wondering when they will be old enough to lay
I’m at my wits end with 2 of our 3 silkies. I live in the city, so I’ve naturally got neighbors to think of… (since this is the “egg layer” section-I might as well add that 2 of the silkies have been laying for a week now, yay! 😀 now, to wait for UC acceptance letters, hmmm) anyhow.
The problem:
My hens are squawking non-stop these days. I don’t know what it’s about, and apparently my parents have gotten complaints from our neighbors now. =[
I don’t know how to stop them, either! Anyone encountered this problem?? Any solutions?
Hi, Our 4 chickens have run of the garden during the day and so go bug hunting and we scatter minced veg and fruit around for them to find. They dont seem to like their layers pellet and will only have around a hand full each day.They love mealie worms and corn as well. Will it matter to them if they dont eat a great deal of layers pellet or should we cut back on all other foods and make them eat more pellets? One has started to lay and the others have brught red combs so may start soon…they are all between 18-20 weeks. Sam
MANY MANY THANX SUZIE..SINCE THE OTHER DAY I HAVE DECIDED TO MOVE OUT,OF MY HOUSE,AND MOVE TO A NEW ONE,SO IVE DECIDED…TO SPOIL THEM AND BUILD A NEW BIG,ENCLOSURE FOR THEM,AND HAVE A FEW MORE HENS,WILL KEEP U UPDATED..THANX
It is important for egg laying that hens receive correct feed. A proper layers mix with correct protein levels is a must. No scraps and not too much corn.
Hi Wayneboy, If you have young hens and got them about in Sept. They will start laying soon. If they are older hens they may have been going through molting time. They loose feathers and dont lay. As far as the rooster, one can service about a dozen hens and have a good fertile probability. Hens lay eggs with or without the rooster. His job is fertility and there is no way you can tell the difference until you try to hatch the eggs. Have patience the days get longer and warmer and the laying starts. Good Luck, Susie….
Hi there could any1 help me,im new to hens and Cockerels,but im learning very quick.But i still got a few questions,i have 2hens and 1 cokeral yet i have not had a single egg,in 5months.But if and when i do get a egg,if i eat it,does it taste any diffrent if its fertile or not??as sometimes i believe they can be hard to tell…also do chickens prefer perches in the box??many thanx
Hello
I have 1 rhode island, 2 marans and a light sussex (hens). the 2 marans are ready to lay but is there a way to help them lay and would the others interfere?
Hi Dexter
Egg laying dramatically drops off after a couple of years. Although our Maran, Carol, is still laying regularly at six years old. We have a couple of seven year old hybrid hens who don’t really lay at all now but as they are pets we don’t mind.