21 week old hens not laying

[StonyCreekFarm]

Hello all!!

I have 15, 21 week old hens and they haven't started laying yet. We are in northern WV, so it has been getting dark around 4:30-5 for a few weeks now. They free range when we are home to supervise them (I get home around 3:30p), as we have coyote and racoon problems. I'm currently finishing up a bag of grower/finisher feed and we don't have supplimental light/heat in the coop. Aside from waiting (impatiently) what should I do? I did witness one of our roosters mounting a hen today!

We have....
3 australorps
4 Easter eggers
4 salmon favorilles
4 wynadottes

 

[Melky]

Keep on grower till first egg with poultry grit and oyster shell on the side. After Dec. 21 the winter solstice daylight hours will start increasing. We are at about 8 hours right now and will need to increase to 14 hours of daylight per day to stimulate egg production. My pullets are 28 weeks and in same boat. Waiting. After first eggs should switch to 16% layer feed with supplements on the side.

 

[Melky]

 

[Pork Pie]

Hi and welcome to BYC - thanks for joining us.

This is a useful link of BYC guides to take a look at announcements-feedback-issues-guides.3 I’d suggest including your location using the guide in that link. You can use this link to contact members in your area - Find your State's thread.

Best wishes

Pork Pie

 

[Melky]

You should put this on the Emergencies / Diseases / Injuries and Cures forum here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/forums/emergencies-diseases-injuries-and-cures.10/

I think this was posted in error as she has new healthy pullets and cockerels.

 

[OldEnglishGameBantam33]

 

[coach723]

Some birds just take longer to mature and start laying. Between that and daylight hours, you just have to be patient, they will lay when they are ready.

 

[scrambled please]

Hello all!!

I have 15, 21 week old hens and they haven't started laying yet. We are in northern WV, so it has been getting dark around 4:30-5 for a few weeks now. They free range when we are home to supervise them (I get home around 3:30p), as we have coyote and racoon problems. I'm currently finishing up a bag of grower/finisher feed and we don't have supplimental light/heat in the coop. Aside from waiting (impatiently) what should I do? I did witness one of our roosters mounting a hen today!

We have....
3 australorps
4 Easter eggers
4 salmon favorilles
4 wynadottes

 

[21hens-incharge]

Hang in there! Winter solstice plus letting your gals mature a few more weeks will do wonders.

Only a few breeds lay super early. Most hit laying age at 26 to 32 weeks.

They'll get there in time.

 

[scrambled please]

They need layer feed to start with, good layer feed. Oyster shells or even egg shells.
You may be waiting til spring but they won’t lay without layer feed, regardless.