SuperC
Chirping
- Feb 29, 2024
- 67
- 96
- 71
I have my first ever flock of 4 Orpingtons who are 32 weeks today. 1 of them started laying 4 weeks ago and has given a 1.9oz egg every single day (what a champ!)…. However, the other ladies (while super curious about the whole process) have not laid anything.
Food is all organic (cluck and co), as well as the scratch mix and they get lots of egg helping herbs and greens (mint, parsley etc). They also get a little bit of extra protien in thier doet from chopped ham or chicken or scrambled eggs each day. They have access to oyster shell and I’ve even given a small supplement of tums once (1 tum per lady) when the first started laying to make sure everyone had gotten enough calcium to be safe.
I know Orpingtons are late bloomers, but they hatched March 5th and are 32 weeks today.
However cold night temps are here (45 last night) and our location is getting a little less than 12 hours of daylight at this point. Am I just outta luck for any eggs from the freeloaders until the spring? Do pullets ever start laying in winter?
I don’t supplement any light (not going to force them!) and they are not free ranging (for their safety) so I know there isn’t any eggs hiding elsewhere.
None of them “squat” (not even the one who DOES lay eggs) but they are epic lap chickens who cuddle all the time so maybe I just don’t have “squatters”? Combs change color thru the day but the look the same as the hen who is already laying. They all show interest in the laying process, and peek into the nesting boxes and watch their sister lay an egg each day (sometimes as close as an OBGYN! lol) but they’ve already done that for the last 4-6 weeks without getting the memo… so my other signs to look for “ready to lay”. are not helping.
Anything I should try? Or should I just expect to wait until spring comes around (but then it’s time for the 1 year molt so…?
).
Any advice or thoughts to help them along, or should I just be patient until spring?
Food is all organic (cluck and co), as well as the scratch mix and they get lots of egg helping herbs and greens (mint, parsley etc). They also get a little bit of extra protien in thier doet from chopped ham or chicken or scrambled eggs each day. They have access to oyster shell and I’ve even given a small supplement of tums once (1 tum per lady) when the first started laying to make sure everyone had gotten enough calcium to be safe.
I know Orpingtons are late bloomers, but they hatched March 5th and are 32 weeks today.
However cold night temps are here (45 last night) and our location is getting a little less than 12 hours of daylight at this point. Am I just outta luck for any eggs from the freeloaders until the spring? Do pullets ever start laying in winter?
I don’t supplement any light (not going to force them!) and they are not free ranging (for their safety) so I know there isn’t any eggs hiding elsewhere.
None of them “squat” (not even the one who DOES lay eggs) but they are epic lap chickens who cuddle all the time so maybe I just don’t have “squatters”? Combs change color thru the day but the look the same as the hen who is already laying. They all show interest in the laying process, and peek into the nesting boxes and watch their sister lay an egg each day (sometimes as close as an OBGYN! lol) but they’ve already done that for the last 4-6 weeks without getting the memo… so my other signs to look for “ready to lay”. are not helping.
Anything I should try? Or should I just expect to wait until spring comes around (but then it’s time for the 1 year molt so…?
). Any advice or thoughts to help them along, or should I just be patient until spring?
