Buffs not laying yet

[petra65]

Hello,
I got 6 chicks on August 7'th 2016. (5 months old now) 3 Buffs 3 Easterhens. I gave 1 Buff and one Easterhen away to my friend. She lives LA area. I live 40 miles south, Orange County. We feed the same food, scratch and peck non GMO food. Mine are partly free range. Mine are also getting kitchen scraps. My friend's Buff is bigger and laying since Christmas. Mine are not laying. I scratch my head to figure out why hers are laying. Her coop is facing the ocean. The chicks have a million $ view. Are they happier?

My coop is facing the trash cans.

What could be the reason? My buffs are really looking ready, red and they are squadding too.
Thanks for all your advice.
Have a great day.
Petra

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Yours are probably getting less protein due to extra stuff you feed which will slow down growth and maturity. It isn't actually a bad thing as I do it on purpose with my young ones. It allows birds to sexually mature more slowly which in my opinion is healthier in the long run and can help prevent problems like prolapse and other laying troubles.

My buff Orpingtons, which I'm assuming your buffs are, don't usually start laying until 6 months of age which is a decent age to me.

What protein is the feed you are giving them?

 

[Molpet]

2 of my BO are from April... one has been laying and the other hasn't.. so sometimes it's just the birds... but less veggie treats and extra protein treats (BOSS, meal worms, meat) sure can help

 

[petra65]

16% protein. Maybe its too low?
Thanks for your replies.
Petra

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

They shouldn't get layer until after they are laying and even than I find it to be too low in protein to support, growth as well as egg laying when anything else is added to the diet. I would put them on a non medicated grower or a All Flock with protein in the 18-22% range. If you feed layer you should feed nothing else and it should only be fed when hens are actively laying. I personally don't feed layer anymore as it has left my bird deficient in the past.

 

[Molpet]

I had trouble w/16% layer too.. I switched to 20% grower.. make sure you have oysters shells free choice in addition to grit

 

[jennyf]

Are you fermenting or soaking the Scratch and Peck? I noticed that my birds were leaving a lot of the fines in S&P when I was feeding dry. That's where a lot of the protein additions are. I quit the gravity feeder and started soaking to get the fines eaten, and, perhaps coincidentally, perhaps not, two of my six month old non layers started within a couple of weeks.

 

[elaineinspain]

my Buff Orpington pullet is also not laying yet. She was born Mid March 2016, so they are now 44 weeks old. I have her and a Buff Orp rooster, and a Cochin pullet all the same age who also isn't laying yet. They are all getting layer mix, fermented.

 

[petra65]

Thanks for all your answers. I will get a different food. It's my Birthday today, I soooooo wanted an egg for my Birthday. I will keep you updated.
Thanks everybody!
petra

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Good luck

, and Happy Birthday.