Egg issues

[Flockking]

Cold climate doesn't really affect laying hens, I'd just say wait it out, but some photos would help

Here are my 9 month old pullets
With my boss hen charming first
Then second is the current laying hen

 

[Flockking]

Then the 4month old girls

 

[Flockking]

I

Where are you located. I'm not worried about the exact address but more interested in if you are north or south of the equator and what your climate might be like. Knowing that could give some really big clues as to what might be happening. It can really help if people put their general location in the profile so it is always available.

Ignoring the potential location impacts, one potential explanation is that they are laying and hiding a nest. That happens very often. Do yours free range? What does your coop and/or run look like. They can be very clever at hiding a nest in many coops in places you would never imagine.

Something could be eating the eggs. Many critters that eat eggs usually leave signs behind like broken egg shells or wet spots. In the mainland USA the typical critters that take eggs without leaving any signs behind are snakes, canines, and humans. I don't know what they might be wherever you are. If your weather is such that a snake is active, snakes typically eat a few eggs and then disappear for a few days to digest them before they come back for more. If it is consistent every day it is not likely to be a snake.
Here the main canine possibilities are fox, coyote, or dog. A coyote or fox would probably be more interested in the chickens than the eggs so since it is longer than a day or two it is probably not them. A dog could eat eggs and not bother the chickens. Does a dog have access?

A human doesn't have to be a thief. Some people think stuff like this makes a good practical joke but it would be unusual for them to keep it up very long.

It is possible they haven't started laying yet. I've had pullets go 9 months before they started laying although the circumstances were conducive to them starting much earlier. When those three actually started laying was the worst time of the year, when you would not expect them to start. Each pullet is different, they don't all start at the same time.

So what can you do? It depends some on how you are managing them and how much room they have. If they free range or have a large run where they could be hiding eggs, lock them in the coop or coop and run for a few days, provided your coop or coop and run are big enough. If you start seeing eggs that means they either just started, they are hiding a nest on you, or you locked out an egg eating predator. You can take an egg, mark it, and leave it down there. If it disappears you know something is taking the eggs.

One way to tell if a pullet or hen is laying is to check the vent. If the vent is small, dry, and tight she is not laying. If it is soft, moist, and kind of large she is laying. Once you see the difference it is pretty obvious. This does not tell you how often she is laying, just whether she is or not.

Stay in nigeria
My bird's free range when I'm around
And there are limited place to be a hidden nest even if, they all see where the others lay

 

[fluffycrow]

Who is the broody one?

 

[Flockking]

Who is the broody one?

Ohh her she is

 

[fluffycrow]

OK, so I think I have some good news. To me it looks like most of your girls will start to lay soon, even your one four month old

 

[Flockking]

OK, so I think I have some good news. To me it looks like most of your girls will start to lay soon, even your one four month old

Hope so
Because all except 3,5&7 do squat when ever I try to pick them up

I can understand 5 cus she's broiler cross and 7 cus she's quite young but 3 who's the same age as the older pullets
Isn't that strange at 9 months?

 

[fluffycrow]

Not always, some start layer than others. As for seven, yes she's the only one who doesn't appear to be laying soon

 

[Flockking]

Alright
Thanks

Not always, some start layer than others. As for seven, yes she's the only one who doesn't appear to be laying soon

 

[Flockking]

Not always, some start layer than others. As for seven, yes she's the only one who doesn't appear to be laying soon

Blacky laid her first egg today and surprisingly big for a first timer