4 of 5 hens laying..normal ?

concrete_boots

Songster
5 Years
Apr 7, 2019
133
177
151
NJ
barred rock was first to lay at 5months to the day..has laid one a day since
Easter eager a week later..has laid one a day since
Lavender Orpington another week later..has laid one a day since
Blue splash Orpington a few days after that..she lays one and takes off a few days or lays every other day
Black australorp..hasn’t laid yet..they will be 7months next week
In southern NJ where it has already started to be in the 40s at night..should I expect her to just kinda roll into winter mode and hopefully start laying in the spring or is there’s still a possibility for her to start popping them out ? She’s one of the quieter ones (The orps like to yell)..she’s not a he I hope

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Run is kinda close to house and coop door visible from kitchen window and sons room window..My wife pretty much watches each one go in the coop at one point of the late morning/early afternoon, sing, and come out..the black Austra doesn’t really go in coop a lot and is the only one who doesn’t immediately squat down when you try to pet her..all 5 are very friendly and the other 4 almost like to get pet like a cat ha. I’d say we are close to 90% sure of who’s laying wich egg.
 
:frow Hi. Do your girls have plenty of shade? I've been researching Australorps 'cuz I'm planning on ordering some for this spring, and I see that they need plenty of shade because they are black. Other than that, is there good ventilation to the coop? What are you feeding, including treats? Do you provide oyster shell and grit on the side? Finally, can you post a side pic of that bird standing in a natural pose?
 
I agree with BigBlueHen53 regarding the need for additional photographs of the bird in question. A side view would be great, so we can see the posture as well as the shape of the feathers.
I'm not an expert but I don't see hackles, sickles or saddle feathers on the Australorp, and the legs are quite slender. The comb is a nice deep shade of red. If it's a hen, and she's not laying yet, she should be soon providing that your hours of (day)light hold out. Have you checked her vent to see if it's moist or dry? moist = laying, dry = not yet
At 7 months of age, I'd expect that if she's a HE, then he'd have started attempting to mate a month or two ago.
 
Sure looks like a pullet to me. With that bright red comb and wattles she should be laying real soon if she is not already. How sure are you that she is not hiding a nest instead of laying in the coop?

I've had pullets start to lay the first week of December when the days are about as short as they are going to get. I've had pullets wait until the days got a bit longer and warmer. Australorps have a reputation for being good winter layers and my experience agrees with that. With that bright red comb you might consider an egg hunt or lock her up for a couple of days and see if you get an egg.
 

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