Good morning from Iowa.
I have 2 leghorns and 2 Golden Comets that are about 4 years old. One leghorn had been laying fairly well, but has slowed down in the last couple of weeks. The others quit a while ago.
This spring we got 8 new chicks - 4 Americauna and 4 Rhode Island Reds. They are now about 21 weeks old and none have started laying.
We put the newbies in with the older ladies a few weeks ago, and switched all the food to an all-flock feed, with an extra feeder containing oyster shell for any that want it.
When we first transitioned the newbies from neighbors (coops beside each other) to roommates, it was a mess. The older ladies had the youngsters scared to death. They huddled together for safety and still do, to some degree. They sort of intermingle now, but the older ones are still dominant. They are figuring it out, it seems. My concern is that the youngsters haven't even started laying. I know the days are getting shorter, but I expected some eggs this fall.
We don't put a light in the coop in the winter, just a heater. I thought they might appreciate a break from laying, but I'm not sure that's working. Our chickens don't live to be more than about 5, it seems. I honestly haven't kept good track of their actual ages.
Am I expecting too much?
I have 2 leghorns and 2 Golden Comets that are about 4 years old. One leghorn had been laying fairly well, but has slowed down in the last couple of weeks. The others quit a while ago.
This spring we got 8 new chicks - 4 Americauna and 4 Rhode Island Reds. They are now about 21 weeks old and none have started laying.
We put the newbies in with the older ladies a few weeks ago, and switched all the food to an all-flock feed, with an extra feeder containing oyster shell for any that want it.
When we first transitioned the newbies from neighbors (coops beside each other) to roommates, it was a mess. The older ladies had the youngsters scared to death. They huddled together for safety and still do, to some degree. They sort of intermingle now, but the older ones are still dominant. They are figuring it out, it seems. My concern is that the youngsters haven't even started laying. I know the days are getting shorter, but I expected some eggs this fall.
We don't put a light in the coop in the winter, just a heater. I thought they might appreciate a break from laying, but I'm not sure that's working. Our chickens don't live to be more than about 5, it seems. I honestly haven't kept good track of their actual ages.
Am I expecting too much?