Still no eggs...

[Annie]

Hi everyone

I was incredibly excited when I got my POL hens four weeks ago, BUT they have still not laid anything! They are Rhode Island Red Hybrids.

We have done everything we can think of, layer pellets with a grain corn mix later on in the day. Giving them cuddles, letting them roam free in the garden, giving them treats most days, putting fake eggs in to show them what is supposed to be produced and obviously clean water and clean coops. Does anyone have any ideas about what we can do?????

At the moment it feels like they are on holiday here and don't have to do anything!

I do love them though - they are so sweet and so gorgeous. I do think that Betsy suffers from a slight narcolepsy but other than that they are great company!

Thanks in advance!

Annie x

[RedThorn]

How old were they when you got them Annie?

[lynda66]

annie as both bephlam and i found out, they will do it exactly when they are ready ... mine were 22/23 weeks and it seems to be a lifetime since they hatched to getting my first egg yesterday, i think bephlams were about 34/36 weeks ... they will lay when they are good and ready

from what i understand point of lay means they are reaching maturity when they will start to produce eggs .... good luck you'll get some soon xx (says the voice of experience with only one ever egg) oh ps have you got a yellow lawnmower? mine kept sticking her bum in the air 3 days before her egg ... for the very handsome one mowing up her rear

[MaureenHall]

It's really easy for all of us who have or have had hens that lay eggs on a daily (almost) basis to tell you not to worry! One of the best signs that a hen is coming into lay is to put your hand on her back. If she runs away, she's not ready, if she crouches down she's almost ready, and if she crouches down with her bum in the air, expect the first one very soon Crouching signals to the cockerel that she's ready for hanky-panky

[RedThorn]

The almost ready phase can take a few weeks(as mine are proving to me at the moment ) ... It can be frustrating though.

[lynda66]

as auntie mo says ... but pingu fancies lawnmowers and phoenix fancies B&Q orange buckets

[Flummery]

My POL hybrids (sound similar to yours) were 17 weeks old when we got them. 3 started laying at 19 weeks, one was about a week later. However, you can buy POL hybrids at 14 weeks (sometimes even earlier) so you will necessarily be waiting longer. Enjoy them!

[Nicos]

Is it worth putting a wooden egg into the nesting box- just to give them an idea???
As the others say- it'll happen when they are good and ready...and hidden away in some far corner so you'll suddenly find 2 or 3!!!!

Actually- better still - go out and buy two dozen eggs...they're bound to lay as soon as you buy that many!!!

[Annie]

Thanks everyone - makes me feel better to know I am just being impatient and that there is nothing to worry about.

Still no eggs this morning.

Am going to try the touching of the back idea and look to see if they are 'showing off' themselves to bright objects.

Oh the joys of owning hens! I can't get enough of them to be honest!

Thanks again x

[RichmondHens]

The term point of lay is used from when the hen is 18 weeks old, but most hens take ages after this to lay. None of my young Welsummer pullets ever lay until at least 26 weeks or later, depending on the weather. A pointer I look out for is the comb development. When the comb is bright red and really fleshy then they are ready to lay. A smaller, paler, "drier" looking comb indicates they are not ready yet (assuming of course they are otherwise healthy and active).

[lettucegrow!]

The anticipation when you look in the nest box is unbearable!!! I'm sure it wont be long

[lynda66]

is it wrong to gloat and say i got my second egg today

[Gardenwitch]

I've been wondering the same thing............

It's really easy for all of us who have or have had hens that lay eggs on a daily (almost) basis to tell you not to worry! One of the best signs that a hen is coming into lay is to put your hand on her back. If she runs away, she's not ready, if she crouches down she's almost ready, and if she crouches down with her bum in the air, expect the first one very soon Crouching signals to the cockerel that she's ready for hanky-panky

With the crouching thing I have at least 2 Thomasina and Betty that are doing that now, yeah! But I also have one, Betty thats sleeping mostly laying down, it seems at every opportunity AND she was also about an hour out of the coop after everyone else;is that normal?! Shes been eating and drinking and no one is bullying her at all shes just so dozey.

[RedThorn]

Have read that they sleep a lot more and are outa sorts just before they lay, almost as if the process of starting to lay takes a lot out of them..... Hopefully if I mis-read, someeone with experience will come along later and correct me (got to love the vine )

[Flummery]

One of mine had a dosey day just before she started laying. I thought she was ill! Then we got eggs - keep hoping!