Do some hens never lay eggs? Update: culled hen, no eggs in her.

[Carolyn]

I got 5 welsummer hens at point of lay last October. They looked pretty much the same except for the combs on two were larger and redder...2/5 were laying. Those 2 got killed by a predator and I was down to no eggs, then a few eggs.... Again 2 of the 3 hens had larger combs and wattles and they were red. I didn't get many eggs this winter but nowthey have are laying good but only 2 are laying. The hen that has never laid is a little fatter (same diet). She has no interest in green leafys which the other 2 love. Her comb is not pale but it is very small and her wattles are also small. She is at least 10 months old. I have got them to use an outside nesting box so I could see who is laying and know she is not. She is going to be contributing to the table food one way or the other but I'd rather it be eggs.

 

[hennyannie]

I had a hen once that met your description of yours. Always bigger prettier healthy looking. Rarely showed alot of interest in snack time. She just seemed very happy and lazy. I would get 11 eggs out of 12 hens lots of days but never 12. About the time they turned a year old I found her sitting on a very small brown egg. Late bloomer?

 

[Carolyn]

did she lay okay after that? I am willing to give this one more time if she is likely to eventually lay fairly well. Thanks

 

[cybercat]

Fat hens will not lay well. Welsummers can take a bit longer too lay but 10 months is too long. I would change feed to see if that helps at all.

 

[sune42]

I have an EE that has never laid an egg for me. She is a year old this month.

 

[purelypoultry]

Some are late bloomers, and some may not lay hardly ever at all. It's all individual. just provide them with the best opportunities to support laying, as far as feed health and environment.

 

[Carolyn]

Thanks everyone for your help. I'll give it some more time in case she is just a late bloomer. My other hens lay beautiful eggs and I really need for her to contribute. I don't know how to change her diet without restricting her to a small cage. They have a large area to scratch around in and free range some.

 

[Ariel301]

I've got a few bantams a little over a year old that have never started laying. They're not fat, but not skinny either. They seem perfectly healthy, so I have no idea why they are not laying.

 

[A.T. Hagan]

I had an EE hen that laid exactly two eggs. The prettiest blue, but only two of them even though she was well over a year old. I culled her a few weeks ago.

 

[hennyannie]

Quote:
Yes she did lay nearly everyday after that, but I got alot less eggs out of her overall compared to her sisters. I dont know how she is doing now, my friend takes my hens when my new pullets get ready to lay.She is two years old this march, maybe she will lay longer for her.