[Lacocklady]

I own 5 hens now, but just the same 3 hens are laying, I was wondering if anyone had any ideas on how I can encourage the other 2 to lay as well. I will give you a little background on the story so far.

I purchased 2 Welsummers and 1 Cream Legbar all aged 9 weeks back in March, I fed them initially on growers pellets & then moved them on to layers pellets. I started to let them free to roam the garden in July and they really started to come on lovely, plummage became shiney and their combs grew and turned a deeper red, so assuming that they were approaching the point of lay. Come the end of August there were still no eggs being laid, so I purchased a couple of regularly laying Marans (a black & a blue) from my son, in the hope that this would stimulate them into laying. Within 2 days of having the Marans, 1 of the Welsummers laid her first egg and has been laying daily since, so I am getting 3 eggs a day. However, there are still no eggs from the other Welsummer or the Legbar??

Is it just a case of being patient and waiting, or is there anything else I can do to bring these other 2 hens on?

I would be grateful for any feedback please.

Jane

[joyfull]

sorry but they will only lay when they are ready 

[Lacocklady]

Thanks Joyful .... to be honest that is what I thought really 

The eggs are just a bonus to me, I purchased them because I love chucks I am happy to sit and watch them for hours, very relaxing and tranquil

[orchardlady]

You mentioned that you let them roam your garden this may sound obvious but could they be 'laying out' at all? You may ind a beautiful clutch of stinking eggs once the garden has gone to bed for the winter. Otherwise I'm afraid I'm in agreement with Joyfull they will lay when they are ready. Isn't the Welsummer egg beautiful?

[Evansent]

I think that Legbars are quite often later to lay than other breeds.  My first didn't until 30 weeks and one of my last hatch has just started at 26 weeks and still waiting on the other one.

[evie2]

We're having 4/5 eggs a day from the big hens but that's because Queenie only started laying last week and we got them as19 week POL  at the end of June

[Lacocklady]

Thank you all for your feed back, it is greatly appreciated & all helpful.
I did check the garden for signs of eggs, but not found any so far. I also didn't realise that the legbar was a late layer, so thanks for that info too.
Yes, the Welsummer egg is beautiful, in colour & taste