New chickens won't lay

[sortanormalish]

I have acquired some new hens, I've had them for about 2 weeks. They won't lay. They are old enough, not too old, and have a good layer ration along with forage. They are getting 14 hours of light. I know they need time to adjust, am I just being impatient?

I've never gotten grown hens from anyone except some abused hens once, they took off better than these have. Otherwise I've always started with chicks and let the hens brood replacements.
Do they need a house warming party or something? They have a lovely male companion who came with them so I don't think their being shy. Can chickens be shy? I had one that chased the rooster!

[bonniethomas06]

How old are they sortanormalish?

I have a freind who bought some 6 month old 'point of lay' birds, but they didn't lay until at least 8 months old. Perhaps they are just late starters?

Do they have nice red combs? That is always a good sign.

[JulieSherris]

Yep, some birds can be slow starters.... our 'mini-chicks' were hatched out last September - 3 are laying, but the other 5 are dragging their feet - maybe they are waiting for the temperature to creep up that couple of extra degrees?

I'd leave well enough alone - just keep an eye on the colour of the combs... and have a look at their legs as well - if the legs are still a deep yellow, then they probably have a few more weeks to wait yet. If they're perky enough in themselves, I'd leave them be - really, there's not a lot you can do anyway!

[sortanormalish]

They are 8 months old and have nice combs. It's dark out, so I'll check their legs in the morning. They are plenty frisky and friendly. We are between 55-60 degrees Farenheit everyday now.

They are Australorps, which I have never had before. Do they need a higher onset temp coming from a warmer climate?

[wulf]

I think you probably are being a bit impatient. Anyway, I bet they are laying plenty of good manure for the garden so don't think of them as entirely unproductive!

Wulf

[rickkerri]

Hi

We hatched our own Australorps last year. They have taken 7 months before they started laying so do take longer to develop and lay as with all speciality breeds other than your basic layers. Ours started off with very small eggs aswell alythough they have got bigger over the past couple of weeks. One advantage of Australorps if you hatch your own is they hit meat weight really quickly even when free ranged and organically reared as we do. Ours have grow far better than Plymouth Rocks and Dorkings - believe we have tried many breeds for dual purpose and at the moment they are coming out the best and taste great too - we found these purly by chance as a guy sent us the wrong hatching eggs and we couldn't waste them x

[sortanormalish]

rickerri, we got ours for the dual purpose as well and because they are supposed to be able to handle the summer heat better than most others. We were told they will also brood well. They have finally started to lay regularly, but only an egg every other day. Or else half aren't laying But it isn't the eggs I want to eat. I plan to hatch and then hatchet if you know what I mean.

Our main laying flock is actually ducks, Khaki Campbell and Pekin x Swede (which seem to lay better than the pure Swede, but don't go broody as the Swede). I actually prefer the hardiness of the ducks, chickens are high maintenance by comparison and ducks seem more dependent on light and independent of temperature, so it is easier to keep them laying all year. They are better than chickens at foraging in winter too.

[red]

we hatched some australorps last year to - and yes late to start laying - we have them to introduce some heavier genes into our hatching eggs, as we raise chickens for meat. problem is.. our cockerel is a welsummer.. and I hve yet to see him tread them - I'm wondering if he is a tad small!!

[sortanormalish]

Our bantam, Napolean, liked the big girls! But I don't think he ever made contact.