28 weeks old pullets - not laying. Is it because of the fall?

[Natalijaasbj]

Hi!
I have 4 birds, including two pullets, which are 28 weeks old. They are heritage breeds (one is Dorkin, another one - Chantecler). STILL NO EGGS
One of them (Dorking) 4 days ago started "separating" herself, trying to find a private space back in the coop - even made kindda "nest" digging shavings around herself (did not go into the nesting boxes), but did not produce anything. Now she stopped looking for privacy too and runs around with everybody as usual.
does it mean I might not see any eggs till SPRING??
Any ideas and thoughts are welcome!

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

What are you feeding and are you giving them 14 hours a day of light?

 

[Natalijaasbj]

Good question about the light! I guess they only get 10 hours of light altogether. May be I should let them out earlier so they get more light hours. To tell you the truth I do not let them out immediately after sun-rise. Does it make a BIG differense????Tell me more, please! As for food they get organic layer crumbs, they forage in the backyard and get scraps. Thanks for any help

 

[aart]

Add a 40w bulb on a timer to come on early in the morning in the coop so they get 12-14 hours of light a day.

 

[Alicatt]

You didn't mention if one of the older birds was a rooster. I got my first egg three days after removing my randy rooster. Turns out didn't have enough hens for his drive and he was stressing them out. Maybe something is stressing them out?

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Good question about the light! I guess they only get 10 hours of light altogether. May be I should let them out earlier so they get more light hours. To tell you the truth I do not let them out immediately after sun-rise. Does it make a BIG differense????Tell me more, please! As for food they get organic layer crumbs, they forage in the backyard and get scraps. Thanks for any help

Here are the results of a bing search - lots of links to see if needed:
http://www.bing.com/search?setmkt=en-US&q=poultry+14+hours+of+light

10 hours isn't enough IMO. I included the search results so that you can see that 14 hrs is mentioned a lot. I hope this helps.

 

[Natalijaasbj]

Aart, can you please tell me where do I get a timer for the light bulb?

 

[Natalijaasbj]

Alicat, no - what is STRANGE. They are olmost 7 months old - and ROOSTER STILL NOT DO "THE THING" AT ALL
We have to hens and two roosters. NOBODY IS DOING ANYTHING SEXUAL!!!!!

 

[Natalijaasbj]

Chickensaresweet!
Thank you for your links. Very helpful!

 

[aart]

Aart, can you please tell me where do I get a timer for the light bulb?

Just get something like this, you should be able to get it at any hardware store.