HENS NOT LAYING AT 24-26 WEEKS OLD

[Joeenders19]

I have 3 Barnevelders, 3 Easter Eggers, 2 Olive Eggers, 1 Super Friendly Barred Rock, 1 Jersey Giant, 1 Golden Laced Wyandotte, and one Silver Laced Wyandotte.

2 Olive Eggers and one Easter egger are around 26 weeks old. The rest of the flock is about 24 weeks old.

So far only my Barred Rock and my Jersey Giant have produced any eggs.

• Their diet is well over 90% layer feed.
• They haven't gone through any mistreatment.
• No health issues.
• The flock has a nice big nesting box (about the size of 3) with nesting herbs and pine shavings.

If anyone can explain to me what's going on, I'd love to know.

 

[WingItRanch]

Hello! What part of the world are in you? In my area, days are getting shorter and shorter which will affect egg laying. Sometimes if a pullet doesn't start by the fall, they may wait until spring.

However, that's not always the case! I have a 26 week old Plymouth Barred Rock that laid her first egg 2 days ago. I'm still waiting on my EEs and OEs.

Are their combs bright red or still pink? Have they shown interest in the nest boxes? Do they squat for you? Those can be signs they're close.

 

[WingItRanch]

Just re-read and missed the part you already have a couple girls laying.. it doesn't sound like there's a issue with your flock. They're just maturing at different times!

 

[FrostRanger]

Pullets will lay when they're ready and not a moment sooner. With us going into fall and winter that will delay things as @WingItRanch said. Just be patient as hard as it may be

 

[WingItRanch]

Pullets will lay when they're ready and not a moment sooner. With us going into fall and winter that will delay things as @WingItRanch said. Just be patient as hard as it may be

And it's sooooo hard to be patient!

 

[AinaWGSD]

That's normal. A lot of birds don't start laying as early as hatcheries claim they will. The age they list as when they are likely to start laying is usually the earliest you could expect to get eggs. Most birds aren't going to start laying that early, especially in breeds that aren't bred specifically for high egg production.

Also, if you're going into fall the shorter days could delay laying. None of my spring chickens have ever laid before December. Mine are 22, almost 23 weeks now and none of them are laying yet. I check for eggs every day, but honestly I don't expect them. Probably not until right before Christmas, after the solstice when the days start to get longer.

 

[Joeenders19]

Hello! What part of the world are in you? In my area, days are getting shorter and shorter which will affect egg laying. Sometimes if a pullet doesn't start by the fall, they may wait until spring.

However, that's not always the case! I have a 26 week old Plymouth Barred Rock that laid her first egg 2 days ago. I'm still waiting on my EEs and OEs.

Are their combs bright red or still pink? Have they shown interest in the nest boxes? Do they squat for you? Those can be signs they're close.

I'm in Lower Michigan. They do all of those things, and their combs will vary between red and pink throughout the day.