9 mo old BR not laying yet...help please

[FarmersWifeForLife]

I have a

9 mo old BR thaT hasn’t laid a single egg yet. She is on layer feed plus some treats and bits from the kitchen, she goes in the nesting box everyday and sits on the golf balls for about 30 mins, leaves no egg, she free ranges a little outside, never far from the run. I can’t figure out why she hasn’t laid.

 

[LikeTurkeys]

My first thought would be that she is laying eggs some where else, but you said that she goes into the nest box daily, so that might be unlikely.

My second would be that you might have an egg eater (maybe it's her!) and that they are doing a very good job cleaning up the evidence. Have you noticed any gooey material or bits of egg shells anywhere? I had an egg eater once that would remove the eggs from the nest, one day I discovered her finishing off some bits of shell in the corner of the coop. Lost some eggs that a broody was sitting on too, so I had to separate her.

 

[FarmersWifeForLife]

My first thought would be that she is laying eggs some where else, but you said that she goes into the nest box daily, so that might be unlikely.

My second would be that you might have an egg eater (maybe it's her!) and that they are doing a very good job cleaning up the evidence. Have you noticed any gooey material or bits of egg shells anywhere? I had an egg eater once that would remove the eggs from the nest, one day I discovered her finishing off some bits of shell in the corner of the coop. Lost some eggs that a broody was sitting on too, so I had to separate her.

No signs of eggs at all. It’s the craziest thing. She is by herself in the coop. A stray dog ate the two other hens we had, and I’m currently bringing up chicks to join her one day. She does all the right things, but still no eggs. Scratching my head...

 

[LikeTurkeys]

No signs of eggs at all. It’s the craziest thing. She is by herself in the coop. A stray dog ate the two other hens we had, and I’m currently bringing up chicks to join her one day. She does all the right things, but still no eggs. Scratching my head...

Interesting. Well, I'm not sure then. Hopefully someone else can chime in!

Have you locked her up for a few days and then checked? Maybe she is laying outside. If she had laid even a single egg, I would worry about reproductive issues, but you say she has never laid at all so I think that is unlikely.

 

[aart]

Have you checked her pelvic points?
...and her belly for any swelling?
She may just be a lemon, it happens.

 

[FarmersWifeForLife]

Have you checked her pelvic points?
...and her belly for any swelling?
She may just be a lemon, it happens.

Thanks for the tip! If I can catch her tomorrow I’ll check. She’s pretty sketchy!

 

[aart]

Thanks for the tip! If I can catch her tomorrow I’ll check. She’s pretty sketchy!

Easiest way to 'catch' a chicken is to grab them off the roost after dark.
Wear a headlight set on dim and/or pointed up.