Freeloaders.....

[kaseyh]

I don't understand why they are not laying. I think they are old enough. Any suggestions?

 

[sourland]

How old are they? To me they look like young pullets not yet at point of lay.

 

[kaseyh]

I'm not really sure how old they are... I have had a really hard time with Roos. I had to keep taking my chickens back to the lady I bought them from bc they all kept growing into Roosters.... Lol I had 4 Roosters so far... Anyway, I think we finally got 4 hens now. The RIR are really red in the face an have grown waddles an combs... The grey one, well not really sure what kind of ckn she is, so not sure what she will look like when mature. An the smaller tri color one is a Easter egger, so not sure about her either... I know I've had them over 2 months now. An when I got them the lady said they should lay in about 1 month... So I wait... An wait, an wait...

 

[csaylorchickens]

I bet they are around 18-20 weeks and hens can start as early as 16 and as late as 28 weeks. Signs that they are close: darker combs, squatting when you go to pet them, slightly enlarged looking vent, and they will start to check out the nesting boxes. If you put fake eggs in the nesting boxes it helps. I put orange Easter eggs and it worked

 

[aart]

Signs of onset of lay---I've found the pelvic points to be the most accurate.
Squatting:
If you touch their back they will hunker down on the ground, then shake their tail feathers when they get back up.
This shows they are sexually mature and egg laying is close at hand.

Combs and Wattles:
Plump, shiny red - usually means laying.
Shriveled, dryish looking and pale - usually means not laying.

2 bony points on either side of vent:
Less than 2 fingertip widths apart usually means not laying.
More than 2 fingertip widths apart usually means laying.

If you're free ranging, they might be laying out in their range area.
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 2-3 days can help 'home' them to lay in the coop nests. They can be confined to coop 24/7 for a few days to a week, or confine them at least until mid to late afternoon. You help them create a new habit and they will usually stick with it.