25 weeks today Black Australorps still not laying?

[Baba_Yaga13]

1 has been "squatting " when I go to pick her up for now 2 weeks. Still no eggs and now another one of then is slightly squatting off and on .....still no eggs , but they are acting all mafia on me. Like while the more mature looking girl does weird shady/hiding quietly stuff, the others watch out for her ...

 

[TeenageFlockers]

Try putting either a golf ball or a wooden egg in the nesting boxes. It may stir the competition. Check to see if your food is layer food or game hen food. They need lots of calcium to get a nice hard shell. Or you got roosters is my guess?

 

[cavemanrich]

I could very well be the effect of the shortening days. (daylight) Normally chickens need 14 hours give or take to be active layers. Less light affects the pineal gland.
I am assuming you are in the Northern Hemisphere
Copy and Paste
The main function of the pineal gland is to receive information about the state of the light-dark cycle from the environment and convey this information to produce and secrete the hormone melatonin.

I can forward more links to good reading if you desire.

WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,and

 

[Baba_Yaga13]

Try putting either a golf ball or a wooden egg in the nesting boxes. It may stir the competition. Check to see if your food is layer food or game hen food. They need lots of calcium to get a nice hard shell. Or you got roosters is my guess?

Hey, so I have had the ceramic eggs in their laying area for like 6 weeks already, and lol no they are all 3 female and yes my feed is layer feed...see why the confusion lol

 

[Baba_Yaga13]

I could very well be the effect of the shortening days. (daylight) Normally chickens need 14 hours give or take to be active layers. Less light affects the pineal gland.
I am assuming you are in the Northern Hemisphere
Copy and Paste
The main function of the pineal gland is to receive information about the state of the light-dark cycle from the environment and convey this information to produce and secrete the hormone melatonin.

I can forward more links to good reading if you desire.

WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,and

Thank you, yes more information would be grand! And yes northern hemisphere here lol west Tennesse, and yes the daylight is barely 12 hours now :/

 

[cavemanrich]

Here is some imformative reading. This one explains pineal gland.
Copy and Paste.
Birds reproductive cycles are controlled by their pineal gland, which is located in the middle of the bird’s forehead, just under the skull. The skull is thin enough that reasonably bright light penetrates it and will still stimulate the hormone cascade that begins lay. Even blind chickens can “see” spring coming.

From this site.
https://mikethechickenvet.wordpress.com/2012/03/30/chicken-vision/

And this site,, BTW Chicken Chick is also a BYC member.

https://the-chicken-chick.com/supplemental-light-in-coop-why-how/

 

[Baba_Yaga13]

Thank you so very much!!!

 

[Baba_Yaga13]

Try putting either a golf ball or a wooden egg in the nesting boxes. It may stir the competition. Check to see if your food is layer food or game hen food. They need lots of calcium to get a nice hard shell. Or you got roosters is my guess?
Sooo yeah I have had the ceramic eggs in their laying quarters for 6 weeks now or longer, and they totally have layer feed and yes they are all hen's lol

 

[BDutch]

Many young hens wait until early spring to lay their first egg.

If you choose for supplemental light, take into account that It takes about 6 weeks to lay eggs , after you give supplemental light (info from other BYC members) .

If you choose a more natural and healthier life for you're chickens just wait until early spring. Making eggs in winter cost a lot of energy (+ proteins, minerals and vitamins) and chickens who lay all year round are finished earlier. The total number of eggs a hen lays in her life will be the same.

 

[aart]

acting all mafia on me

Huh?

Like while the more mature looking girl does weird shady/hiding quietly stuff

What is she hiding and where?
Do you free range?
Might be time for an exam:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/who-is-laying-and-who-is-not-butt-check.73309/
Then maybe:
Free range birds sometimes need to be 'trained'(or re-trained) to lay in the coop nests, especially new layers. Leaving them locked in the coop/run for a week or so can help 'home' them to lay in the coop nests. Fake eggs/golf balls in the nests can help 'show' them were to lay. They can be confined to coop and maybe run 24/7 for a few days to a week, provided you have adequate space and ventilation, or confine them at least until mid to late afternoon. You help them create a new habit and they will usually stick with it. ..at least for a good while, then repeat as necessary.