The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: Geeza on April 07, 2009, 12:31:14 am
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OK so we finished the coop (kids shed converted) and built a very large run. At Penkridge auction we purchased 5 POL warrens + 1 werren hen and 16 chicks. This mother hen RULES and is allways chasing the others>> we have no eggs as of yet and have had them for 3 weeks.
Any advice plz...
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I'm not an expert but if she isn't actually harming them - i e drawing blood, then I'd leave them - they have to sort out their pecking order. As for POL - that differs with the breed and although they say they are at POl they may need time to settle down. My LS took ages to start laying (must have been about 10 months old I think) but now I get an egg from each of them very day.
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Annie's right. Depends on the age of the bird when they start laying - usually about 20 - 22 weeks. If they are being fed properly and are healthy otherwise, you'll just have to be patient.
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I bought Isa Warrens, allegedly POL. but it was about 6 weeks before I got any eggs. Now almost a year on they lay every day and the eggs are lovely
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Sometimes chickens are put back a bit by the stress of a move. Also some people will sell you pols at 16 weeks knowing full well that they havn't laid yet. watch for the colour of the comb and wattles, a healthy chicken in lay will have good red wattles, if they are pale it is either not ready yet or a bit out of sorts. have you given them any tonic and grit?Are you giving them layers pellets or mash? Sooner or later they start laying and you will wonder what to do with all those eggs.
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Thanks. They are being fed on Laying pellets . veg peelings , corn in the evening as a treatwith egg shells. They are now looking more red in colour as when we had them they were light pink in colour (yup young birds). Looking forward to our first eggs now!!! any one got any bacon??