Chickens not laying yet?

[jwright]

I have four 23 weeks old Barred Rocks that are still not laying. Also have one Buff Orphington who is probably about 25-26 weeks old and she also is not laying either. They have been on layer feed for about two weeks now and was wondering if this is why they are not laying. Also I give them some snacks to include watermelon, mangos, and other scrap fruit and vegetables. Am I doing something wrong or is it something else. I have laying boxes on the coop and they have plenty of room to roam so was not sure if I should be doing something else. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Fred's Hens]

No, the layer feed won't make them lay nor prevent from laying.

Pullets mature at their own rate. They begin to lay when they are ready and not a day earlier. Like junior high girls, they mature at different rates. They are likely very, very close.

When working young pullets, it is great to have an older hen "show them the ropes" and model laying in the nest. In the absence of a trainer hen, pullets may need some guidance from their keeper. Nests should low, in my experience, as a chicken is essentially a ground layer. The pullets should be contained in coop and run until later in the day. If they free range, I don't like to turn them loose until around 3 in the afternoon, giving them very little chance to decide to make a nest in the bushes somewhere.

Golf balls in the nests gives them a visual cue and sometimes this is helpful as a suggestion of where the egg should go. Beyond that? Enjoy them. They'll be laying soon enough.

 

[jwright]

Thanks for the info. Guess I will just keep waiting on these finicky girls.....just like a lady