5 Month Old Hen Not Laying

[LittleFalcon]

My hen is now 5 months old and squats for my rooster but she is not laying. She could be hiding them but I coop her from time to time to make sure and always get nothing. Her comb is pretty pink and she seems pretty healthy but there is no eggies! She is the sweetest little thing and has never gone near either of my gardens as well as I'm aware and I check on my chickens pretty often. She is in with a rooster not much older than her and 4 4 to 5 week old California white chicks.

 

[Northwest_Wannabe]

What breed is she, and whats the weather like near you?

 

[Perris]

patience, grasshopper she is nearly there, but the shortening nights may get to her before egg production does, in which case you may be waiting till late December...
If it's any consolation, I had to wait 11 months for one of mine!

 

[LittleFalcon]

Wow thats a long time!

She is a New Hampshire Red and it almost the end of summer.

 

[aart]

My hen is now 5 months old and squats for my rooster but she is not laying.

So about 20 weeks old?

but I coop her from time to time to make sure and always get nothing.

What exactly does this mean?

Time for an exam.....
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/who-is-laying-and-who-is-not-butt-check.73309/

Then....
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 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.

 

[CluckerFamily]

My pullets started squatting down for the rooster about 2 weeks before they laid their first egg but this was in the middle of summer. They have started to slow down now because Autumn is starting and the days and nights are cooler than usual.

 

[aart]

They have started to slow down now because Autumn is starting and the days and nights are cooler than usual.

It's not the temps, but the length of daylight that slows laying.

 

[LittleFalcon]

Ok, I will coop her for a week next time, she is going to hate me whenever I let the other chickens out though poor girl

 

[aart]

Ok, I will coop her for a week next time, she is going to hate me whenever I let the other chickens out though poor girl

Leave them all cooped.

 

[RubelliteRose]

How long has she been squatting? My first 2 just started laying last week at 20 weeks old. They both squatted for 2 weeks before laying. One of our friends has a hen who squatted for almost a month before laying her first egg.