Will they lay in the dark

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orfy

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Will they lay in the dark
« on: August 27, 2008, 20:06 »
I think my hen house maybe dark all through the day. (No Window)

If it's too dark will the girls go in and Lay?

There is only the draw bridge hole to let light in!

It's only a small coop.


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poultrygeist

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Will they lay in the dark
« Reply #1 on: August 27, 2008, 20:23 »
They like to lay in dark places, so I would have thought it would be an advantage.

Are you getting POLs ??

Rob 8)

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orfy

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Will they lay in the dark
« Reply #2 on: August 27, 2008, 20:29 »
I've got 3.

Probably a few weeks to go yet. I think they were around 14 weeks. I've had them just over 2 weeks now.






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poultrygeist

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Will they lay in the dark
« Reply #3 on: August 27, 2008, 20:38 »
The normal time for starting is around 24-28 weeks. I presume you have some straw and/or shavings down in the coop ?  :)

Assuming they have no other problems with going in, when the time gets close, you can place a golf ball or pot egg into the nest box to show them where to lay.
Ours just seemed to take to it without any prodding.

Rob 8)

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orfy

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Will they lay in the dark
« Reply #4 on: August 27, 2008, 20:41 »
Thanks yes.

Wood shavings in the coop.
Straw in the nesting boxes.

They take themselves to bed every night and can't wait to get out in the mornings.

The breeder I got them from says it's rare for them to go over 22 weeks before they start

RIR and Marans.

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poultrygeist

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Will they lay in the dark
« Reply #5 on: August 27, 2008, 20:49 »
I can't comment on the specific breeds but 22 weeks would normally be about the earliest age to start I would have thought.

Hopefully someone with more experience can comment, but if they're happy in their home, i don't think they'll hang around. As soon as they get the urge, they'll be up that ramp like a shot !  :D

Rob 8)

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orfy

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Will they lay in the dark
« Reply #6 on: August 27, 2008, 20:54 »
Good.

I'm happy to wait.

As long as they don't start crowing then I'm cool.

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poultrygeist

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Will they lay in the dark
« Reply #7 on: August 27, 2008, 20:58 »
:lol:

Fingers crossed  :)

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Foxy

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Will they lay in the dark
« Reply #8 on: August 27, 2008, 22:39 »
mmmm you might find that it could be a little late in the season, and the shorter days will mean that laying may be postponed till Feb  as they are around 16 weeks now. But dont worry that means less likely to suffer from laying problems as they will be nice and mature. You might be lucky and get a few teeny eggs first though! :D

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GrannieAnnie

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Will they lay in the dark
« Reply #9 on: August 27, 2008, 22:58 »
Then again you may be lucky, as quite a few of our Babcocks, most of whom have gone to their new homes started laying at 17 weeks.  they are 19 weeks now.

And once they start to lay, they usually lay through their first winter pretty regularly.

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Fat Hen

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Will they lay in the dark
« Reply #10 on: August 27, 2008, 23:00 »
The four legged one looks a little odd what breed is it.

I got POls in march a year back, they started laying end of August/early Sept. :wink:

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Kate and her Ducks

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Will they lay in the dark
« Reply #11 on: August 28, 2008, 12:07 »
Be like a duck. Calm on the surface but always paddling like the dickens underneath.

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poultrygeist

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Will they lay in the dark
« Reply #12 on: August 28, 2008, 12:23 »
I remember that story. I think he ended up losing his extra legs, unless that was another one.  :)

And we thought Titch was slightly odd  :D

Rob 8)

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Miller

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Will they lay in the dark
« Reply #13 on: August 28, 2008, 14:31 »
I've got 8  babcock's from Grannie Annie - one started laying at 17 weeks, they are now 20 weeks and 5 of the 8 are laying  :lol:

One lays overnight (they go in about 8:45 now and we let them out a 6am) and there's always an egg there when I check them about 10:30 - so obvoiusly do lay in the dark (or ours are odd  :shock:  )



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