Since day one I blocked the nesting boxes until about 17 weeks and they only nest in there (no poop or anything). Put in straw and ceramic eggs and got my first egg the following week!
They roosted right away when i moved them out of the brooder into the coop. I am new so I researched all this...
Hope your Australorps will lay for you soon! Both my 2 black aussies laid at 22 weeks - it took them a couple days to get a couple of kinks worked out but so far have gotten large eggs from them (not every day but good enough). It was a chaotic first few days with them - fake singing several...
Wow - Did the wrinkly egg shell have a yolk with it?? I ask because I have been researching this a bit since my 1 (or 2?) Black aussies did something similar (but not eggs connected), yesterday - I've been waiting for their first eggs also. What breed is your girl?
My 2 girls are 22 weeks and...
I had the same worries and so far so good. My 5 Pullets are 21 weeks and free range all day - the first one layed in the nesting box and the 2nd just started and uses the same box. One lays earlier in the morning and the other mid-late morning. They always return to the coop to lay (or don't go...
Thank you Chickmomma03! I wonder how many "Buffys" are out there! Original name is Fluffy McBufferton, but that was cumbersome to say! I like Orpi, that is really cute!! When she was a little fuzzball she was the nicest one but now I often call her Dinosaur or Monster because she is the most...
I just found out my 2nd egg layer is my Buff Orpington, Buffy! We saw her going back into the coop and she is still in there!
So far, our first layer RIR Ruby started at 18 weeks and I can now say that Buffy laid her first egg, ironically on Labor Day, at about 20 weeks.
Thanks so much Chickendreams24. It has been very hot (mostly humid) and I have been afraid to lock them in since the sun coming into the windows make it a sauna. It is supposed to rain the next day or two so maybe it will be cool enough. Or maybe I can move the coop to a shadier spot so I can...
Got my first egg but only from one of 5 girls. My chickens are 20 weeks today. My RIR has been laying one everyday since 18 weeks with only one day off! So 3 days ago I found 2 eggs in one day which means another started!? Whoever it is laid it in the same nest box as the RIR. I haven't gotten...
YIPEE! We got our first egg today! It's a small beauty with a nice hard shell! Luckily, I found it right when I opened the coop door this morning (right inside the door on the floor!). I think it was from my RIR. I have been worried that I would not be able to find any eggs if the girls laid...
Oh man, 6 months is a long time. Congrats. I have 2 black australorps and waiting for any of my hens to lay... but they are 18 weeks old and although one is redder in the face than the other, they both don't have full blown comb and wattles. I guess I have to be very patient!