My 26-week-old hens aren't laying yet. Their coop and run are in the shade, could that by why?

The chickens squat because that is what they do when there is a rooster there to fertilize. That shows that they are ready or near ready from what I have heard. The best way to figure out who is laying is to catch them in the act. You have to check periodically when you see one of them go in, stay a while and come out. if there is more than one egg, the egg that is warmer will be the one you catch leaving. Then label them and keep them in a seperate carton so you can compare. My Salmon faverolle lays pale small eggs, my Deleware lays the same colored egg but larger. The double yolkers will throw you off. Ours are massive and occur about every four or five days. Sometimes we have a chicken lay more than one egg a day.

EchoesEchos said:

Would you explain this squatting thing for me please. My Barred Rock and Java both do that. I have 6 hens, and get three eggs a day. I have no idea who is laying them except they are varying shades of brown. So my EE isn't laying. they are smaller eggs so don't think they are my Wyandottes either. Was thinking maybe my Polish and Barred Rock but maybe it's the Barred and Java who are laying by maybe what you are saying.

When I pet the back of the Polish she justs slightly jumps an goes about her business. Can't get close enough to the shy wyandottes or EE to do the petting. I'm needing help please.

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The squatting is a submissive/mating behavior and it is a sign that they are getting close to laying.

At 26 1/2 weeks you are just on the cusp of them being mature enough. We are very late in the year and many hens are already slowing because of the reduced daylight. It is very possible that you won't see many or any eggs until the spring. Even if they get mature enough the shortened daylight will definitely have an effect. I hate to be a killjoy but you need to realize that you might not see any or many eggs until Spring. The shade doesn't make a difference.

I know how you feel. Last year myfirst chicken just started laying in the beginning of September. By the time they all started laying it was mid October and they slowed right off.

On the subject of artificial lighting and other methods to make them lay. You can use that to make them lay more year round. My philosophy is that they are created to lay for a certain time for a certain reason. Egg laying takes a lot out of them so the few shortened months of daylight gives them a break and lets their system rest. My feeling is 'Let them do their thing naturally'. I know you can't wait for eggs but they will give you eggs...precisely when they're ready to.