Golden Comet Maturity Age

[junebuggena]

Don't know but go through bout 150lbs of feed a day. But maybe they'll start soon.

First of all, 150 lbs of feed for 450 birds comes out to about 1/3 of a cup of feed per bird. That's not enough. Growing and developing birds need unlimited access to a feed with at least 18% protein content, all day long. Secondly, pullets that mature in the fall take longer to start laying. Thirdly, if you started them on layer feed too soon, you may have delayed the onset of lay even more.

 

[Henery]

That's an awful lot of chickens! What sort of management system do you have? Barn, penned or free range? If confined, how much space do they have? What do you feed them? Could they be eating their eggs? They will do that if they are bored or don't have enough space. They will not lay if they are underweight or stressed. A photo of your set up and some of the hens might give us an idea of what the problem might be or if they look close to laying, Do you ever hear them singing the egg song?

I keep them in a broiler house, feed them Faithway 16% crumbles, don't have any recent pictures but the size where they are is 15ft high 30ft wide and 50ft long but the chicken house is 360ft long there's a petition that can be moved though.

 

[junebuggena]

Overcrowding stress may also be playing a part in why they aren't laying. 3.3 sq ft is pretty tight quarters, barely enough room to stretch their wings. That sized barn is probably at maximum capacity with about 150 birds total. Layers are not broilers, they have different space requirements.

 

[drumstick diva]

Absolutely agree with everything Junebuggena has told you.

 

[BantamFan4Life]

Welcome to BYC! I'm glad you joined us!

 

[CuzChickens]

Hello there, and welcome to Backyard Chickens! I am so glad you joined us, I do hope you will make yourself at home here. Enjoy BYC!

 

[N F C]

 

[redsoxs]

Hello from Kansas and welcome to BYC! Great to have you aboard! Best wishes.

 

[RodNTN]

Welcome to BYC!

 

[Lighteye]

I've got 450 Golden Comet Pullets That Are 6 months old each and nobody's laying what could be wrong??? Anybody Got An Answer???????Plz I need an answer they're going to put me in debt???????????????

I bought red sex links as a day old. The hatchery said they would lay in about 16 weeks. However, they will be 6 months in few days, and not a single one laid egg. Thank God I didn't rush to buy more than a hundred. I hope u find the answer in your ordeal. I don't think it's the daylight. As other chickens in my neighborhood with a different breed started breeding and laying. Even the ones born a month after I got my day old chicks. I think it has something to do with their diet. I have one pullet who constantly leaves to go roam around the neighborhood, surprisingly, she weighs heavier than the ones who don't leave the premises. I keep mine in the backyard and they can fly around the fence. I think the trick is to feed them high in protein which I wasn't able to maintain during their development process. You can raise superworms and propagate azolla as they're known to be high source of protein. I did them but it required maintainance so I wasn't able to continue. The result is some of my pullets, despite being fed properly, are just underweight and underdeveloped. It's coz chickens tend to get bored with the same feed and that grains and commercial feeds aren't tasty for them. I never caged them. They roam around a decent space but now it's just a sandy area since chickens will change the soil. It used to be full of grass and some plants but guess what, they are it all.

But since yours were bought at 6 months old, my only suggestion is the diet. Rich in protein and supplement their calcium need. Idk if having red wattles and comb is a true indication that they will lay but I have a few that are having those and hoping they will lay. Also, they said having a rooster can encourage them to mature earlier. Idk if that's true but my one pullet who gets out everyday has been chased by some roosters in the neighborhood (yes, we have neighbors who let their roosters loose).

I feel your frustrations. I tried reading so many articles wondering why my pullets haven't laid when my supplier said 16 weeks.