Dud Chickens, 2017 style

[DIMBY]

Saw a few older posts about this. I bought three hens from local breeder, supposed to be 2 Wyandottes, 1 cocoa maran. They are now 8 months old - 32 weeks. One of the Wyans lays very tiny green eggs, about 2" long. The other two - Nothing! Nada, no eggs. I have twice now locked them in the hen house for a week at a time, to make sure they not hiding them in the yard somewhere, but no eggs. The two non-layers do not look like marans or wyans, they are clearly mutts. In fact, the lady who sold them to me later admitted that her hens and roosters mixed it up for a few days when somebody was supposed to be looking after them.

So, any hope that 1. the Wyan will ever lay larger eggs, and the other two - will they ever lay anything?

Adding - they are not molting, never have, free range, lots of sunlight, it isn't cold yet, and I feed them 20% protein feed.

 

[PirateGirl]

If it's any consolation my pullets all hatched between Feb 15 and March 1 and only 1 out of 5 is laying so far. When I look at them the others definitely do not look at mature as the one laying.

As long as they look and act healthy I wouldn't worry too much.

 

[bobbi-j]

Are you sure they're all pullets?

 

[DIMBY]

Yes, definately pullets, no doubt about that. They are healthy and eat well, do all of the chicken things - except eggs. Do you think they'll eventually lay? And will they one Wyan laying now every lay normal-size eggs? It's weird. I've had 50 or so chickens over the last 9 years, never seen this before!

 

[aart]

How old were they when you got them?
Do you have other chickens?
Sounds like you may have a few 'lemons'.

Can't help thinking:
Buyer Beware of Backyard 'Breeders'.
BTDT.

 

[DIMBY]

They were about 8 weeks or so, supposedly hatched end of March or thereabouts. I have 4 others right now, generally I have 8-10 chickens at any given time. She wasn't a backyard breeder, came highly recommended, etc., has 100+ chickens, etc.

P.S. My other four are too old to lay, aged out, they are pets only. That's why I got 3 youngins' for the eggs. But...

 

[PirateGirl]

Our days are significantly shorter and we've had snow several times, I also had a respiratory infection go through my flock a few months ago, so I know my girls are just a bit developmentally behind.

I have seen several posts on here in the past few weeks from people with pullets from spring not laying yet. Some breeds take longer than others.

Do yours look fully mature? Big red combs and wattles? Do they squat for you? Do they sing their egg song? If not, it might just not be time yet. If they do all of these things I'd definitely start to wonder...

 

[aart]

She wasn't a backyard breeder, came highly recommended, etc.

That may be, but this (quote below) does not sound very reputable to me,
especially if she didn't 'make it right' after admitting the 'mix' up.
Hopefully you didn't pay pure breed prices.

One of the Wyans lays very tiny green eggs....The two non-layers do not look like marans or wyans, they are clearly mutts. In fact, the lady who sold them to me later admitted that her hens and roosters mixed it up for a few days when somebody was supposed to be looking after them.

 

[DIMBY]

OK, here are some pix, a little hazy, but I think you can get the idea. Mutts 1 and 3 no eggs, Mutt 2 only small green eggs. All 8 months old. No molting, it's not cold yet, in fact unseasonably warm.

 

[Morrigan]

That looks like a typical "pullet egg" to me -- at least that's the size my mutt's eggs are when they first start laying. After a few months of laying, the eggs start getting bigger and by the following summer they are normal sized. I kind of enjoy the small-sized "first eggs" while they last.

As for why they other's aren't laying -- I've occasionally had a hen not start laying until 7+ months in, but 32 weeks is a bit unusual. Not unheard of, however. They may just be late bloomers. Also, I've heard of (but have not experienced it) hens that wait until the following spring before laying their first eggs.

Also, Mutts 1 and 3, don't look particularly close yet, but it just could be the photo. They don't look nearly as red in the face/comb as Mutt 2. Could your "breeder" have gotten the hatch date wrong?