21 weeks, still no eggs, and MOLTING?!!

[SqueakyRoseShalom]

21 weeks is not that late... depending on breed and when they hatched. 18-24 is pretty normal for most of mine. Just like young girls start menstruating at different ages, the same is true for birds maturing at different rates... even from the same parent stock. It's also effected by what you fed during their maturation. And ultimately by daylight hours.

Molting at 21 weeks would be NOT normal... lets see some pics?

Getting close to lay... the gals usually get more vocal, they might squat if you quickly put your hand over them. And of course their combs become much redder. You might notice pacing in and out of boxes or an egg song pop off when they get startled.

Do you have other layers showing them where to go or fake eggs in your nests? To me... birds maturing this late in the season often take longer than birds that hatched in February. As long as you are sure they aren't being hidden or eaten... you are still WELL within normal time frames to begin laying. I KNOW the wait is so hard!

Yes, it is hard indeed! I don't think that they are hiding them anywhere because I have looked everywhere. The combs do not look any redder than normal. I will have to try the fake eggs! That's a new one for me =P

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I switched to layer pellet at 18 weeks. 4 BR, 4 EE, and 4 Welsummer.

It will slow down maturity. Layer generally has less protein and is for actively laying mature hens. I put out a separate bowl of oyster shells for the calcium needs.

 

[SqueakyRoseShalom]

It will slow down maturity. Layer generally has less protein and is for actively laying mature hens. I put out a separate bowl of oyster shells for the calcium needs.

WOW I had no idea. Thanks for the info! I will switch back to grower tomorrow

 

[Evelyn's Mom]

AAAGH! My hens are 21 weeks already and still no eggs. In the past, we have always had eggs no later than 18 weeks. So here we are, a full 3 weeks behind, and I think that my girls have started to molt! Is this even possible?!! Feathers everywhere in the coop. I'm in southwest Florida, so it's plenty warm, but we have been having an unusually wet rainy season. I could cry. Is there anything I can do???

Feed a little extra protein, maybe, make some molt muffins to get them through it and eggs will come sooner! Mine love molt muffins! I love the recipe from @fresheggsdaily !

 

[SqueakyRoseShalom]

So I could not find that molt muffin recipe, but I did switch to a 20% protein feed two weeks ago. My girls are now 24 weeks and still nothing. But there are no more feathers in the coop and run for about ten days. Something else that I'm finding strange is a roo that we got eight weeks ago. The girls were 16 weeks old, and he was already a mature roo that I got from a friend. He was mounting the girls from his old flock everyday at my friend's house. But he has never mounted any of our girls. And, he hardly ever crows. Literally. I've heard him crow five times ever. And the folks who live behind us have several roos who crow all day long. STRANGE BEHAVIOR all around. Any ideas?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

So I could not find that molt muffin recipe, but I did switch to a 20% protein feed two weeks ago. My girls are now 24 weeks and still nothing. But there are no more feathers in the coop and run for about ten days. Something else that I'm finding strange is a roo that we got eight weeks ago. The girls were 16 weeks old, and he was already a mature roo that I got from a friend. He was mounting the girls from his old flock everyday at my friend's house. But he has never mounted any of our girls. And, he hardly ever crows. Literally. I've heard him crow five times ever. And the folks who live behind us have several roos who crow all day long. STRANGE BEHAVIOR all around. Any ideas?

Fall maturing pullets often take an extra month to start laying compared to ones maturing earlier in the year. Your rooster probably isn't confident enough in his new home and situation yet. Some take a long time. Pictures would help just in case it's not a rooster.

 

[aart]

Your rooster probably isn't confident enough in his new home and situation yet.

Or he knows those pullets aren't productive(releasing ova) so no need to mate.