Have to ask..ever have a hen who just never laid an egg?

[Summerford]

Well I have an EE and she was 6 months when we bout her and I'm looking for her to lay any day but that has been happening for almost 2 months now. Hope she lays. We are eager to know the color of the eggs.

 

[NicChicks2013]

They will be pretty for sure

 

[RoostersCrow HensDeliver!]

We have a beautiful australorp ( Beauty) about 8 months maybe slightly older. Has yet to lay an egg. Her gal pal the leghorn drops one a day and has for a months now. She is healthy, eats well and just looks beautiful. My husband and I wonder if there are times a hen just never lays. If she were egg bound or something, thinking she would be ill. Maybe she is waiting for a boyfriend or the whole laying an egg thing is just not for her..she makes for wonderful living yard art so she is a keeper..Hubby says she gets more yummy looking the longer we wait..lol..not happening

Yes, last summer I had a Red Sex Link pullet that was about a year old and had never laid an egg. Her comb never got large or red and her pubic bones never spread. Her feathers were always in the best in the best condition. Her most memorable traits were her screaming yellow legs and face actually had a yellow cast to the skin (not jaundicey though). She seemed to be in perfect health, she was not heavy or visibly obese. I decided to butcher her with a group of 20 week old cockerals and found her to be full of dark yellow fat internally with not much fat externally like you might see on older hens. She did have ovaries full of eggs but I guess it was a hormonal issue that caused her not to ovulate. So I would say it is POSSIBLE to get a pullet that will never lay eggs, but I think the chance is relatively small. I've had over 500 hen throughout the years and have only ever experienced something like this once.

 

[NicChicks2013]

That is an interesting story..thank you for sharing it. Will have to show this post to hubby..a healthy hen who just never laid an egg..It is rarely possible though..Thank you for the proof..sorry she had to go though. Now I will be staring at her comb every time I go outside..lol. We only have two for now till spring..these two girls are in for a surprise. Thank you

Btw..what is pubic bone thing all about? How far do they spread before laying..will have to check her out

 

[RoostersCrow HensDeliver!]

I will keep my fingers crossed that this is not the case for your girl.

Here is a picture I found on the internet to illustrate how to check the spacing. A single finger space means definitely not laying, two finger space or more means laying or soon to lay.
You may need a helper to hold the hen.


editing to add:
see how "moist" looking this hens vent is? That is good indicator of laying too, a non-layer has a dry vent.

 

[Lobzi]

Hi, just curious, did Beauty ever lay and egg. I have a hen who is at least a year old and still no eggs from her. There are a lot of threads on this subject with antidotal stories but no real answers to the question as to why this might happen that a hen never lays. I sure would like an answer from someone who might know....

 

[Abriana]

I’ve never had a hen that didn’t lay at all, but I’ve had a few who didn’t lay as much. They went strong for a while, maybe a year and a half, and then tapered off. I didn’t mind though, since they were my babies, and I was still getting 5-9 most days.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Hi, just curious, did Beauty ever lay and egg. I have a hen who is at least a year old and still no eggs from her. There are a lot of threads on this subject with antidotal stories but no real answers to the question as to why this might happen that a hen never lays. I sure would like an answer from someone who might know....

Sadly the owner of Beauty has not logged on since 2016. I doubt we will ever know.

 

[Ab1010]

My main flock has about 6 hens that should be on their way to 8 months.. no eggs. Everyday I tell them theyer freeloaders. I cant figure out why none have laid. They free range and are fed well get treats and oyster shells. Silky shiny feathers. No eggs.. theyer lucky theyer cute

 

[Guernsy]

Interesting thread. I have three hens that are not laying (out of 10). One is just an oddball. She laid a couple of eggs a while ago, but they were soft and she just dropped them in the coop right of the roosting bar. Never laid again (yes, they have access to oyster shells). The others were younger and are always separated from the flock. They are about 3 weeks younger, however, should have been laying for a while now (they are 7 months old). We always thought that they are intimidated by the others and need more time or are scared by the laying noise and won't lay. I don't know, we are being silly with the idea.