27 week chickens not laying - I think I messed them up

[lvfit99]

I have a flock of 19 chickens of mixed ages. The oldest are a couple of years old and there are 11 "babies" that are now 27 weeks. I fed them starter feed for about 10 weeks and then put them outside with the older birds. I combined chick/layer feed for a few weeks and then ran out of chick feed so just let everyone have layer feed. Now the "babies" are 27 weeks and not laying. Have I permanently messed them up so they will never lay? They look great - healthy, developing red combs, etc. No changes to the coop, fresh air, very large run. Thank you! (The younger ones are all Rhode Island reds.)

 

[NorthwoodsChick]

Do they free range or are they always confined to the run? If so, you may find hidden nests.

 

[lvfit99]

They are confined although we do have 3 runs. We live on some property with a lot of dogs, chicken hawks, etc. Thank you!

 

[sourland]

Pullets maturing this time of year are sometimes late starters due to the shortening daylight period. Your husbandry has not messed them up. They will lay - patience.

 

[lvfit99]

Pullets maturing this time of year are sometimes late starters due to the shortening daylight period. Your husbandry has not messed them up. They will lay - patience.

Okay - I will continue to be patient. Thank you for your encouragement.

 

[Raptor Chicken]

Sourlands advice is accurate.

We got our Pullet chicks in August and I don't expect eggs until next spring, maybe. But we're not in any rush.

At this point just trying to keep them alive through the winter.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Echoing @sourland and @Raptor Chicken - I hatch my own, mutts, so there's not even a suggestion of when they - on average - will start to lay. As light levels have begun to drop, many of my older birds are molting and stopping laying (the pasture looks like birds exploded in various holows where the feathers tend to collect) while some of my early summer hatchings are making every appearance that they won't start till spring...