Easter Egger not laying yet at 28 weeks

[Paula321]

My EE named MJ has not yet started laying eggs. Her 6 flockmates of the same age all started around 18 weeks and all lay almost every day.

She has unlimited access to organic chick starter feed, layer pellets, a bowl of oyster shells and a bowl of ground up egg shells.

She free ranges from 7 am to 7 pm in an acre that is fully fenced. None of them have ever been attacked or threatened so I don’t think stress is an issue. Her coop is 28x12 that she shares w 16 other girls. I’m from Central Florida so there is plenty of light. She also gets a cup of cracked corn, 2 cups of sprouted grains and a whole cabbage put out daily that she shares with 6 hens and 11 pullets.

Of particular concern, she loves to get into my lap and cuddle where she literally snuggles up and preens. Then when she gets down, she starts acting like a rooster to the 17 week old pullets dancing around them and dropping one wing. She seems to have a bigger comb than my other EEs.

She squats perfectly every time I try to pick her up and never crows.

I’m worried something is wrong with her. She is a pet for life but I would love her to lay some eggs. Any thoughts?

 

[Moazra4]

My first thought it she could be laying somewhere you haven’t discovered yet. Sometimes they lay in weird places. If not, I’ve heard of some not laying until 30ish weeks. That comb is pretty red though, so I would think if she hasn’t layed yet, she will soon

 

[Paula321]

I have searched everywhere thinking this too. I also cut one wing’s feathers on all of them as my neighbors have dogs so I don’t want anyone flying over the fence. There is nowhere else unless she is laying and then eating the eggs immediately. I guess I can keep her locked in the coop for a day or two to see. She would hate that though.

 

[AusHen]

She does look close to laying but I said the same with one of mine and she didn't lay until week 32 and I had another hen that was 36 weeks!

 

[sealer39]

I have you both beat. Out of my six EE pullets all started laying around 18 weeks except for one who is approaching 39 weeks with no eggs. She’s healthy and normal in all regards, just no eggs. I would have culled her by now but I’m curious to see just how long it will take her to lay an egg, if ever.
This is a pic of my free loader:

 

[aart]

She squats perfectly every time I try to pick her up and never crows.

..and she looks ready to me.
Time for an exam:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/who-is-laying-and-who-is-not-butt-check.73309/

She free ranges from 7 am to 7 pm in an acre that is fully fenced.

Then maybe:
Free range birds sometimes need to be 'trained'(or re-trained) to lay in the coop nests, especially new layers. Leaving them locked in the coop for a week or so can help 'home' them to lay in the coop nests. Fake eggs/golf balls in the nests can help 'show' them were to lay. They can be confined to coop and maybe run 24/7 for a few days to a week, provided you have adequate space and ventilation, or confine them at least until mid to late afternoon. You help them create a new habit and they will usually stick with it. ..at least for a good while, then repeat as necessary.

 

[SnapdragonQ]

It could depend on which hatchery she came from. I've had EE types for 15 years. From some hatcheries they start around 6 months and other hatcheries they don't start until after 8 months. My last batch from Hoover hatchery didn't start until 10 months old, which was what...44-ish weeks?? In the middle January no less! All 10 of them.

I did some checking and apparently quite a few people had the same issue with this particular breed from Hoover.

 

[Paula321]

I have you both beat. Out of my six EE pullets all started laying around 18 weeks except for one who is approaching 39 weeks with no eggs. She’s healthy and normal in all regards, just no eggs. I would have culled her by now but I’m curious to see just how long it will take her to lay an egg, if ever.
This is a pic of my free loader:
View attachment 2158811

She looks just like my freeloader. It’s like she knows. She cuddles up to me more than any others by far.

 

[sealer39]

She looks just like my freeloader. It’s like she knows. She cuddles up to me more than any others by far.

Mine laid her first egg on Fathers Day, 43 1/2 weeks. It’s the bluest egg I’ve ever gotten from an EE and she is laying large sized eggs, so it was worth the wait.

 

[speckledhen]

Well, may just be her. I have a 12+ yr old EE hen who did not lay until 40 weeks old. Her first eggs were humongous from the start and she laid up until she was 11 years old then, with every egg, she would prolapse, but my point is that she delayed maturity and it served her (and me) well.​

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