not laying eggs yet.

[eleanor2]

my daughter has bought some hens.she was told they would start laying within a fewweeks of having them.it is about 6 weeks now and still no eggs.she thinks maybe they are too young still.does anyone know anything about hens and when they first lay eggs.

[eleanor2]

just when i need oola.......

[Oola]

Hi eleanor

I wouldn't worry, they're probably still fairly young. Pullets (young female chickens) don't usually start (it's called point of lay) until around 16 weeks.

Whn they do start laying, the eggs might come out a bit funny at first but they'll work it out and they should be regular.

If they don't start laying it might be worth getting a vet to have a look... they may have been sexed wrong, or there might be a health reason (not likely with a full flock). Have they been vaccinated?

[eleanor2]

thanks oola .i dont know if they have been vaccinated.they are a healthy group of 5 hens.and 3 young little fancy hens with feathery legs.the 5 hens are the ones she was expecting to start laying soon.i reckon like you say.they are still too young.what do they have to be vaccinated for .

[Oola]

Hi eleanor

Usually hens are vaccinated against diseases such as marek's disease (usually done in day old chicks I think), gumboro (aka infectious bursal disease/IBD), Avian Pneumovirus (ART), Infectious Bronchtis and I think Newcastle Disease. There may be more, but I think they may be the standard for commercial birds.

I'm not sure whether vets would advise giving small flocks of 'pet' chickens all of these, although newcastle disease and marek's disease are pretty horrible ways to die. IB usually affects laying more than anything I think.

Anyway there's plenty of info out on the web if your daughter needs to know more. Our ex-batts, coming from intensive farming systems, were already vaccinated so it's not something I'm knowledgable about really.

Hope the girls start laying soon... usually when they come into lay the colour of their legs start to change. In 'brown' hens their legs go from yellowish to whiter coloured scales. Not sure about other colours though!

[eleanor2]

hi oola spoke to daughter.she says she had her hens from a very good company so she thinks they would have had all thier immunisations if needed.she is a novice so picking things up as she goes along.they are allowed to wander freely around thier grounds so look very happy and healthy.

[eleanor2]

thought i would come back with the good news.for months now daughter has been having about 6 eggs every day off her hens.all through thier winter.i had one at christmas when i was there they are rich yolks and yummy eating own eggs.