6 month old flock and not one egg!

[Willow Ridge Farm]

I have 8 Prairie Bluebell pullets that are 6 months and one week old. They are free range in a 100 x200’ contained area. They have grass, sunshine, dirt, scratch grains, bugs, food scraps, Nutrena layer pellets and crumbles, calcium supplement. They have grown well and have great feathers and act fine. However, I have not gotten a single egg yet! They have been visiting the nest boxes for weeks and I have combed their outdoor area in case they were laying outside, but there is not one egg. I don’t believe a predator would be eating all 8 eggs every day without a trace and leaving the 3 brown eggs from my mature birds. Has anyone run into this before? Is in not that unusual? I have never raised birds that haven’t been laying by 4 1/2-5 months of age. Any suggestions besides just wait..

 

[Silviaschicks]

Sounds like they are right about to lay! If they are visiting the boxes, that is a good sign. Hens lay at different times, and the expected time is not always the same

 

[rosemarythyme]

They're probably close, but if you're in the northern hemisphere you may see a delay in laying onset due to shortening day length.

 

[Perris]

don't worry, they'll start when they are ready. I had to wait 11 months for one of my heritage breeds!

 

[aart]

They have grass, sunshine, dirt, scratch grains, bugs, food scraps, Nutrena layer pellets and crumbles, calcium supplement.

How long have you been feeding layer feed?
Might be good to cut out all other foods/treats for a few weeks.

I have combed their outdoor area in case they were laying outside

You may have to confine them to coop and run for a time.

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/run 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.

But first an exam, do they look and feel like they are laying?
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/who-is-laying-and-who-is-not-butt-check.73309/

 

[Willow Ridge Farm]

don't worry, they'll start when they are ready. I had to wait 11 months for one of my heritage breeds!

Oh my goodness! 11 months?? I may have eaten mine by then ;-)

 

[Willow Ridge Farm]

How long have you been feeding layer feed?
Might be good to cut out all other foods/treats for a few weeks.


You may have to confine them to coop and run for a time.

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/run 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.

But first an exam, do they look and feel like they are laying?
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/who-is-laying-and-who-is-not-butt-check.73309/

Thank you so much for your reply! I started feeding the layer feed about 6 weeks ago. They had access to layer pellets because of my 3 older birds, but also had chick starter crumbles which they preferred. Now it’s all layer feed with a mix of crumbles and pellets. One of the “pullets” turned out to be a roo and he has just this week started crowing, so maybe they will lay soon!

 

[Willow Ridge Farm]

don't worry, they'll start when they are ready. I had to wait 11 months for one of my heritage breeds!

That is a beautiful rooster on your profile picture! What breed is he?

 

[Perris]

Thanks! That's Sven, He's a Swedish Flower, and a wonderful roo.

 

[Jeri B]

Oh my goodness! 11 months?? I may have eaten mine by then ;-)

Any updates? Are they laying or have you eaten them?