8 month old chickens not laying

[jennyf]

Of my flock of 6 (Barred Rocks, NH Reds, and Wyandottes) hatched around 4/1/16, I'm pretty sure 3 of 6 are laying and one looks close in terms of comb/wattle development and the other two do not look very red in face yet. So you're not alone!! I'm thanking my lucky stars at least a few are cooperating so I don't have to buy too many eggs this winter! Hopefully they'll lay longer later in life since they appear to be taking a pass over the winter...

 

[EggSighted4Life]

That's what I hope to with mine.

Sometimes you can tell they are close when you quickly put your hand over their back they will squat. Also they may start cackling or talking a bunch.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Lazy?!

Sometimes I don't even answer just because I don't have all the time I need to include the details. A file is a good idea.

I also don't incubate pullet eggs or early season, just beginning again. How long after laying begins do you wait?

I wait till eggs are the appropriate size for the breed's SOP. This breed is supposed to be about 65 grams. One summer I lost 6 flocks to mink attacks and desperately hatched every egg I got. The results of hatching small eggs yielded hens that laid small eggs their whole lives. I won't make that mistake again.
As for resumption of lay, I'm going to incubate all the first eggs of the laying season for my own replacement birds starting this year.
The concept is that during the dormant season, given optimal nutrition, hens have been building up bodily stores of vitamins, minerals and amino acids so the first eggs of the season should produce the most viable chicks.

Of my flock of 6 (Barred Rocks, NH Reds, and Wyandottes) hatched around 4/1/16, I'm pretty sure 3 of 6 are laying and one looks close in terms of comb/wattle development and the other two do not look very red in face yet. So you're not alone!! I'm thanking my lucky stars at least a few are cooperating so I don't have to buy too many eggs this winter! Hopefully they'll lay longer later in life since they appear to be taking a pass over the winter...

After all this labor and expense, I hate buying eggs.

That's what I hope to with mine.

Sometimes you can tell they are close when you quickly put your hand over their back they will squat. Also they may start cackling or talking a bunch.

I look for them to start checking out nest boxes or if really curious I'll do the finger test on the pelvic bones but I have to do that at night since I can't get near them during the day.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I wait till eggs are the appropriate size for the breeds SOP. This breed is supposed to be about 65 grams. One summer I lost 6 flocks to mink attacks and desperately hatched every egg I got. The results of hatching small eggs yielded hens that laid small eggs. I won't make that mistake again.
As for resumption of lay, I'm going to incubate all the first eggs of the laying season for my own replacement birds starting this year.
The concept is that during the dormant season, given optimal nutrition, hens have been building up bodily stores of vitamins, minerals and amino acids so the first eggs of the season should produce the most viable chicks.


After all this labor and expense, I hate buying eggs.


I look for them to start checking out nest boxes or if really curious I'll do the finger test on the pelvic bones but I have to do that at night since I can't get near them during the day.

Good info!

My girls do check out the lay boxes as they are getting close for sure. They pace back and forth between them. Getting in and out and arranging the bedding. Even practicing rolling the other's eggs up under them. It is so cute. Sometimes they practice the egg song even.