Flock of 9 Hens 1 year old and not Laying!!! HELP!!!

[wartrek79]

I have 9 hens. They do not lay. they get plenty of food, i have tried feeding them different kinds of chicken food, they get to free range about 3 times a week (when i'm home to watch them) They are around a year old, and i have not gotten any eggs from them at all. Do i need to get rid of them and start over? I love them, they are very nice babies, they just don't lay eggs!

 

[devora]

Whoa, are you saying none of them has ever produced a single egg? Are you sure of the age (I mean, did you raise them from chicks)?

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

Wow, 1 year old and not laying. That stinks. I'm now going to answer your question with a bunch of other questions......sorry. Have you checked all around for hidden nests? How are your nest boxes set up? What do you feed your girls? How do you feed them- free choice in a feeder or portions on the ground, ect? Could you have a pest stealing eggs (birds, mice, squirrels, dog)? Could your chickens be eating their own eggs? What type of condition are they in (plump with glossy feathers or thin with dull feathers). Sorry for all the questions, but there are so many things that can affect egg laying. With some more info we might be able to help you narrow it down....

 

[Fred's Hens]

Same questions as everyone else. Sure about the age? Never laid an egg? Not laying even when kept inside for a couple of days? (this is see if they prefer outside, hidden laying). Did you raise them from chicks this past year? What breeds or hybrids?

 

[Fred's Hens]

If you got them as chicks in May of last year, it is possible that the came to Point of Lay in fall. Some breeds will wait until the following spring to begin laying, especially if you have not provided them with any supplemental lighting to extend their days during the dark of winter.

If you got them from someone who told you they were a year old, the same thing could apply. Without supplemental light, many birds will not lay in the dark of winter.

Finally, if you got them from someone else who wasn't truthful about their true age, well........... that is just awful.

 

[StarLover21]

They may be alot younger than you think. You can post pictures here and we'll tell you. Some chickens if they come into POL in the fall don't lay til spring. Do they free range? If so, they're hiding their eggs. What breeds are they? How much protein do they get?

 

[hpardee]

Did these chickens ever start laying? I have the same problem right now. I have about 15 hens. All raised from chicks. They are a year old and have never layed a single egg. We have everything set up right. They get fed twice a day and always have access to water. I don't want to get rid of them because they are such sweet hens but if Im not getting any eggs from them they can't stay.