Hens not laying after 8 months

[justaboy]

I hatched a couple of chickens in January, Salty the BCM, Fugly the Naked Neck, Elvis the leghorn, Sexy the Black sexlink, and only Elvis has started laying last month. I know that they take a little bit but my last batch started hatching at the same time at around 6 months. Is this normal?

 

[RoyalChick]

I hatched a couple of chickens in January, Salty the BCM, Fugly the Naked Neck, Elvis the leghorn, Sexy the Black sexlink, and only Elvis has started laying last month. I know that they take a little bit but my last batch started hatching at the same time at around 6 months. Is this normal?

I don’t have much experience except my gold Legbar waited 13 months before she started. I think they will do whatever they do - doubt it is anything to worry about.

 

[azygous]

Hatching in January should insure eggs by fall. Of all of them the leghorn is the premier egg machine and would be expected to be laying, but the others should be laying by now, regardless.

The first thing I would look at is the feed. If you've been feeding them all layer feed instead of chick grower or a homemade concoction, they may not have been getting enough protein and important minerals to fully develop their reproductive equipment.

Other factors affecting laying can include internal and external parasites and environmental stresses such as stray dogs menacing the flock or excessive noise and traffic.

 

[justaboy]

Hatching in January should insure eggs by fall. Of all of them the leghorn is the premier egg machine and would be expected to be laying, but the others should be laying by now, regardless.

The first thing I would look at is the feed. If you've been feeding them all layer feed instead of chick grower or a homemade concoction, they may not have been getting enough protein and important minerals to fully develop their reproductive equipment.

Other factors affecting laying can include internal and external parasites and environmental stresses such as stray dogs menacing the flock or excessive noise and traffic.

Chick starter for 8 weeks, grower feed for 4 then layer feed until now. I give all of my chickens blended coleslaw, radish, and watermelon with oyster shell and a little bit of meat.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

Chick starter for 8 weeks, grower feed for 4 then layer feed until now. I give all of my chickens blended coleslaw, radish, and watermelon with oyster shell and a little bit of meat.

That's quite a blend!

But it's best to offer the oyster shell on the side. They're good about knowing how much they need and when.

 

[DemeterAD9]

Do they free range? Hidden nests are a pain and I’ve had to go on many egg hunts because of it.

Are they squatting for you? Combs red vs pink? I have about 24 pullets (mutts and hatchery breeds) all between 25-26 week and maybe 3 are not laying yet. I have another group of 8 between 17-19 weeks and I don’t think any of them are laying but they are getting red. I prefer to feed a slightly higher protein % than layer so I mix starter with layer mash to get 17% protein. I also feed either layer pellets or all flock, typically the all flock in a feeder outside the run for my ducks and turkeys and whichever chickens decide to hop the fence.

 

[azygous]

Layer feed, in my opinion, has too little protein for backyard layers. It certainly has not got enough protein in it for developing bodies. I haven't used it in nearly two decades because of this. It's really formulated only for commerical laying operations where chickens only live for two or three years and then slaughtered. It's not nutritionally sustainable for chickens we wish to keep for a decade.

What I would suggest is to feed some animal protein such as canned mackerel once a week. Or even cooked eggs. The additional protein could tip these "failure-to-launch" kids over to laying before the days get too short.

Also, make the oyster shell available separately so the chickens can help themselves when they get the craving, which new layers may have right before they start.

 

[justaboy]

Do they free range? Hidden nests are a pain and I’ve had to go on many egg hunts because of it.

Are they squatting for you? Combs red vs pink? I have about 24 pullets (mutts and hatchery breeds) all between 25-26 week and maybe 3 are not laying yet. I have another group of 8 between 17-19 weeks and I don’t think any of them are laying but they are getting red. I prefer to feed a slightly higher protein % than layer so I mix starter with layer mash to get 17% protein. I also feed either layer pellets or all flock, typically the all flock in a feeder outside the run for my ducks and turkeys and whichever chickens decide to hop the fence.

Nope, they have a converted shed and a 25ish square foot run

 

[justaboy]

That's quite a blend!

But it's best to offer the oyster shell on the side. They're good about knowing how much they need and when.

Oops didn’t see this! The oyster shell and meat are on the side