1 year old cream legbar has never laid an egg!

[OrpObsessed]

I have a Cream Legbar hen that I got from a reputable breeder. All the other hens that hatched alongside mine were laying when I bought her 7 months ago. Her comb has long since laid over, she gets fed the same as all my other hens that lay well...I just don't understand why in the world she's not laying yet?

The breeder insisted she would start laying within the month I brought her home...I'm tempted to take her back and ask for a trade if she's not laying by spring....

 

[Kelsie2290]

Does she seem healthy otherwise, is her abdomen normal feeling and looking? Have you tried separating her for a few days to be sure she isn't laying an off color maybe or hiding eggs? What were you planning on doing with her? If the breeder will take her back, I would be inclined to do so, especially if you bought her for breeding, as even if she starts laying now that late start is not something you want in the next generation.

 

[OrpObsessed]

If the breeder will take her back, I would be inclined to do so, especially if you bought her for breeding, as even if she starts laying now that late start is not something you want in the next generation.

Yes everything normal. I just don't get it... I was going to use her for breeding. My husband says she gave us the least desirable of the bunch...that he didn't have a choice, so I'm wondering if we didn't get her cull? She seems like a pretty shrewd business woman but I'm pretty sure she will replace/ trade her or something. I really don't want that trait passing to offspring for sure!

 

[aart]

7 months is a long time to wait to complain about a nonlayer, especially if she was laying age when you bought her.
Will be curious to see what the breeder says...good luck!

 

[enola]

Does she free range? If she does there is the possibility that she is hiding eggs. Check her pubic bones. If they are spread wide enough to comfortably place 2 fingers between them, she is laying.

 

[Farmer Viola]

Does she free range? If she does there is the possibility that she is hiding eggs. Check her pubic bones. If they are spread wide enough to comfortably place 2 fingers between them, she is laying.

I agree with this!

I had a EE hen who was hoarding eggs in a nest in the bushes. I didn't catch on, because she sometimes laid in the main nest too! I'm thinking it was on days she laid before I let them out to free range? But then I found 6 beautiful blue eggs in the dirt! LOL! Can you separate her for observation?

I also had a RIR who didn't lay her first egg until 8 months old. Now she lays every day, bizzare!

 

[OrpObsessed]

I will double check her pubic bone tomorrow. Yes she does free range sometimes..thats a possibility. I will seperate her tomorrow and see how she does. Thanks!

 

[OrpObsessed]

Oh my gosh, she is STILL not laying!!! I'm so frustrated! so she is 14 months old now, almost everyone else is laying and she still hasn't laid not one single egg, EVER! I suspect she is very inbred because her and the rooster I ended up with from the breeder, both have crooked toes. I'm so bummed...I wanted blue eggs so badly.

 

[Kelsie2290]

Well that is one slow starter for sure. You have more patience than I do. At least it is now spring, if she is ever going to lay you'd think it will be in the next couple of months. Were you ever able to separate her out to see if she was laying an off color egg? How does she act / look otherwise, does the rooster mate with her?

 

[OrpObsessed]

Rooster mates with her, I have separated her and her pubic bones are still rather close together. She is a cull for sure, I will probably hang in there with her another month or so...then I have no idea what to do. Just frustrates me to no end that I've been paying to feed her sorry keister this whole time. I'm irritating with the lady that sold her to me too, cause she gave me the sorriest looking out of the bunch...I think she knew what she was doing. :/