All song no egg

[Sunshade82]

Hi all, I have 6 ten month old pullets. 5 of them have been laying eggs since October (5 months) or earlier. Then there’s my Welsummer. She likes to accompany my Easter Egger in the nesting box and will even sing an egg song. The eggs laid are never hers though. She’s just singing her support I guess.
Even though they are all the same age, we always refer to her as the baby. She just acts younger...not unhealthy or smaller. She’s just quiet, never pushy, idk how to describe it.
Is it possible she’s just going to stay a “baby” forever? What’s the oldest new layer you all have had?

 

[MountainWoman73]

I have a freeloader, Bluebell, who often sits in the nest and sings. She didn't lay until she was 12 months old, then laid eggs for a 6-week period last spring and then quit again. I don't think she's laid for months. I actually thought she was one of my whiting true blues because I found her on blue eggs a couple of times, but she turned out to be an andalusian and had white eggs.

Another thought -- do you get any white eggs, and could Baby be a mislabeled brown leghorn? They can look a lot like welsummers.

 

[Sunshade82]

I have a freeloader, Bluebell, who often sits in the nest and sings. She didn't lay until she was 12 months old, then laid eggs for a 6-week period last spring and then quit again. I don't think she's laid for months. I actually thought she was one of my whiting true blues because I found her on blue eggs a couple of times, but she turned out to be an andalusian and had white eggs.

Another thought -- do you get any white eggs, and could Baby be a mislabeled brown leghorn? They can look a lot like welsummers.

My Austra white is the only one who lays white (cream colored) eggs. I know they’re hers too cause she announces her egg song before she heads into the nesting box
Well, if my Welsummer turns out to be a freeloader then so be it. Good thing she’s so sweet (and my daughter’s favorite).
If she lays sparingly, I really hope they’re the dark reddish brown eggs that would be worth the wait!

 

[gtaus]

Is it possible she’s just going to stay a “baby” forever? What’s the oldest new layer you all have had?

My Welsummer was one of the last pullets to start laying eggs. She came in with beautiful dark eggs, but went into molt last fall and I have not seen an egg from her since then. I hope she picks up and starts laying eggs again. Of the 10 different breeds of chickens I got, she is about on the bottom of the list for egg production. But, I think if you wait a bit longer, she will start laying some nice eggs for you.

 

[Sunshade82]

My Welsummer was one of the last pullets to start laying eggs. She came in with beautiful dark eggs, but went into molt last fall and I have not seen an egg from her since then. I hope she picks up and starts laying eggs again. Of the 10 different breeds of chickens I got, she is about on the bottom of the list for egg production. But, I think if you wait a bit longer, she will start laying some nice eggs for you.

Everything I’ve read on Welsummers has them laying pretty early so it’s nice to hear yours laid later too. We have hope for her yet! Lol
I got her for the speckled eggs but one of my production reds already lays speckled so fingers crossed on the dark pretty eggs instead. (I’m not going to hold my breath though )

 

[gtaus]

I got her for the speckled eggs but one of my production reds already lays speckled so fingers crossed on the dark pretty eggs instead. (I’m not going to hold my breath though )

Yes, there are breed characteristics which we all use to plan our flock, but individual chickens of the breed may vary in performance. Sounds like you have a balanced outlook on the situation. Sometimes, life is easier with chickens if you can accept them as they are.

Having said that, I met a guy who breeds birds and he holds them to their breed specs. If he sees any deviation from the breed, he culls them. He believes his job is to develop birds as true to the breed characteristics as possible, and "substandard" birds should not be used as future breeding stock. I guess I can see that from his point of view. And maybe we should all be grateful to breeders who have exceptionally high standards.

Like you, I got a Welsummer for the colorful eggs. I hope she starts laying soon and you get to enjoy her eggs. I am happiest when I have a basket full of different colored eggs form my small backyard flock.

 

[Lemon-Drop]

We have a chicken, Jasmine, when all the others started laying, she didn’t start until the next fall. She is a black Australorp. This was also probably due to a dog attack in the winter that paralyzed her leg. We were able to get her to a vet that supported chickens, they suggested putting her down but we wanted to try medicines and therapy and she is still alive today, and walks fine. So I’m guessing she was in shock.

 

[Sunshade82]

Yes, there are breed characteristics which we all use to plan our flock, but individual chickens of the breed may vary in performance. Sounds like you have a balanced outlook on the situation. Sometimes, life is easier with chickens if you can accept them as they are.

Having said that, I met a guy who breeds birds and he holds them to their breed specs. If he sees any deviation from the breed, he culls them. He believes his job is to develop birds as true to the breed characteristics as possible, and "substandard" birds should not be used as future breeding stock. I guess I can see that from his point of view. And maybe we should all be grateful to breeders who have exceptionally high standards.

Like you, I got a Welsummer for the colorful eggs. I hope she starts laying soon and you get to enjoy her eggs. I am happiest when I have a basket full of different colored eggs form my small backyard flock.

Wow I couldn’t imagine holding any of my girls up to such standards. I guess if someone’s breeding them...still None of my pullets match their description on temperament they all definitely do their own thing.
I got my girls based on egg color, heat tolerance, (and temperament haha). My next batch will hopefully have some blue egg layers or even a black copper Maran if my Welsummer ends up not having those dark brown eggs I love having a colorful basket!

 

[Sally PB]

but we wanted to try medicines and therapy and she is still alive today, and walks fine.

Thank you for taking care of her. I love my Black Australorps.

 

[Sunshade82]

We have a chicken, Jasmine, when all the others started laying, she didn’t start until the next fall. She is a black Australorp. This was also probably due to a dog attack in the winter that paralyzed her leg. We were able to get her to a vet that supported chickens, they suggested putting her down but we wanted to try medicines and therapy and she is still alive today, and walks fine. So I’m guessing she was in shock.

I think I’ve heard more dog attack stories than attacks from wild animals! I’m so glad your chicken is doing better.