26 wks and counting....No Eggs

[KIMEng]

Hi BYC peoples,
I have 7 chickens, 3 -32 wk in which 2 of them are laying(Red sex link and Barred rock) my SLW stopped laying a few days after we introduced the new flock of 4 moved in 2.5 month ago. The new flock of 4 are now 26wks + 1wk only 1 of them are laying, the Barred Rock, the other 3 no eggs yet-a Lavender Orpington, Black Jersey Giant and buff Polish. The flock appears to have blended well, there is still some pecking order going on but I don't think we had ever had any full throttle bullying. The older girls are territorial over food, still, but we have 3 food stations in the 200 sq foot coop to keep them spread apart well enough. Goldie, my RSL, is the bossiest of them all esp around food and treats, but again I always spread that out in different locations. The girls are in good health. Is this just a waiting game, when should I get concerned? THANK YOU !!

 

[trumpeting_angel]

Snoop around the coop and run (and woe if they are free ranging) to look for hidden nests. I got one egg in the nesting box and nothing else for over two weeks until I crawled behind/beneath the ramp in the darkest corner of the run: 17 eggs! Well hidden.

I also found a nest with an even dozen behind the barn once they started free ranging.

But patience is the most likely answer.

 

[sourland]

It's just a waiting game. The three new hens not laying are not high production breeds. The change in flock dynamics and shortened day length have impacted most of your birds. Production will resume as the day length starts to increase.

 

[KIMEng]

It's just a waiting game. The three new hens not laying are not high production breeds. The change in flock dynamics and shortened day length have impacted most of your birds. Production will resume as the day length starts to increase.

My new layer is laying 6 out of 7 days, just amazing. my RSL every morning just like clock work and then the older Barred rock about 6 out of 7 days-so no real drop off of laying since the time change. My Silver Laced Wynadotte, Sue Ellen, has not been happy since the flock integration, boy is she grumpy- she is just on strike I think. Funny how the chickens have distinct personalities!! The Orpington and Jersey Giant are quite timid and shy-they may still be stressed some by the older girls. I will wait. Thanks!

 

[trumpeting_angel]

I’ve read that if pullets start laying before the days get too short, they will continue through the darker months. If they don’t , they start when the days start to lengthen.

 

[KIMEng]

I’ve read that if pullets start laying before the days get too short, they will continue through the darker months. If they don’t , they start when the days start to lengthen.

Hum, it might be spring until we see some eggs of of them, then

 

[aart]

since the time change.

The time change(grumblegrumble) has nothing to do with the length of day(that didn't change, just the clocks).
I'm waiting on 26wo's too, they are closer than they've ever been
~28 days until Solstice!!

 

[trumpeting_angel]

Some people report laying resuming earlier than spring, maybe February? I'm trying to recall. First Thanksgiving, then winter solstice, New Year's, MLK . . . soon, eggs!

 

[KIMEng]

The time change(grumblegrumble) has nothing to do with the length of day(that didn't change, just the clocks).
I'm waiting on 26wo's too, they are closer than they've ever been
~28 days until Solstice!!

Are there specific signs a pullet is getting close to laying eggs?

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Are there specific signs a pullet is getting close to laying eggs?

Comb and wattles will get darker red, and hens may start to squat in your presence, or so I am told. Either mine did not or I did not notice, lol. They were more tolerant of the attentions of their male counterparts.