Ameracauna hen not laying eggs yet

[ZoeysBirds]

I had acquired a Ameracuana (some believe she's just an EE), whatever the case, she's now 35 weeks old and still hasn't laid an egg. Never!! I've had her for about 2 months now. I wasn't anticipating anything right away but now I feel like she should be laying, Anyone have any ideas?? My birds are all organic, I feed pellets that are 18% protein, BOSS, scratch (its cold here in MI) and they get some greens daily. (Kale, romaine lettuce) I feed scrambled eggs occasionally (once every one to two weeks). The flock all get along well, not predator attacks, no pets upsetting them. I just don't get it. I have 2 others who are younger then her that have been laying for a while. One of which I got from the same flock she came from and she started giving me eggs the day after we brought her home! Imagine my shock!! Is there anything I can do to encourage her to lay? Is it possible she will never lay??

 

[donrae]

Do you have a pic of her?

 

[ZoeysBirds]

 

[aart]

Might be the long nights/short days?

Do you free range? She might have a hidden nest.

 

[ZoeysBirds]

I do. It's hard to explain our set up but she rarely leaves a specific area which is where some extra nesting boxes are. They're made for the ducks but one of my chickens Likes to lay in there. The only other place she goes, I've checked and haven't seen anything.

 

[aart]

I do. It's hard to explain our set up but she rarely leaves a specific area which is where some extra nesting boxes are. They're made for the ducks but one of my chickens Likes to lay in there. The only other place she goes, I've checked and haven't seen anything.

MmmmHmmm....they are very, very sneaky.

Her comb looks pretty pale...... but have you checked her pelvic bone width?
2 bony points on either side of vent:
Less than 2 fingertip widths apart usually means not laying.
More than 2 fingertip widths apart usually means laying.

 

[donrae]

Agree her comb is immature looking, but it also looks more straight or mixed than pea, which could mean she'll lay cream or brown eggs instead of the expected blue/green.

You can try confining her for a few days, to see if she's laying. Some hens are stealth layers, some announce to the world.

If she's not laying now, I'd say just wait for spring. Not all birds are production machines, some are just not as good a layer. I'd bet she's laying by Easter. If not, decide her future at that point.

 

[ZoeysBirds]

I know I only have 2 birds laying at this point. I've seen them both lay actually. I just scouted her usual area to hang out, out side of their run and didn't find anything. Her 2 sisters have been laying since end of September. One lays green, one lays a pale blue. I haven't checked her pelvic bone yet. If it's less then 2 fingers, does that mean she will never lay, or just not laying at the moment? I have pretty small hands too. lol. And my hubby has giant hands, should I have someone with average size hands check her to have a better idea?

 

[ZoeysBirds]

What does having a pale comb mean? Does that have something to do with their laying too??

 

[aart]

Pelvic width and comb color changes depending on whether they are in lay or not.
If she had bright red comb and pelvic spread, I'd lock her up to make her lay in the coop.