Hens not laying at 31 weeks

[minou33]

We got our first chicks last spring. The will be 31 weeks tomorrow and only 2/5 have started laying. The two that are laying started at around 20 weeks. Now with the cold weather (we have had several snows and negative temps) I'm wondering if they won't even lay till next spring at all.

Is this normal? Is it how I'm feeding them? They get 16% Scratch and Peck Layer Feed fermented fed twice a day (7:30 and 3:00) with powdered eggshells and kelp in the AM, mealworms several times a week, and some garden greens/veggies sometimes in between feedings. Someone had told me they might not be getting enough protein...could that be it? And do people usually increase protein anyway in the winter (my girls aren't molting yet).

TY!

 

[CHlCKEN]

They likely will lay soon. However, where I am the days are getting shorter and my pullets (close to the same age as yours) haven’t started either. They need a certain amount of daylight hours to lay an egg, and with the days shortening, they don’t have that. They could also be molting or just not ready to start!

 

[CluckerFamily]

I agree with @CHlCKEN. What breed are your pullets?

 

[U_Stormcrow]

also waiting on breed ID before opining - with the added agreement that declining daylight means most chicks will start laying at the later end of the normal range, rather than the sooner end, on average.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Is this normal? Is it how I'm feeding them? They get 16% Scratch and Peck Layer Feed fermented fed twice a day (7:30 and 3:00) with powdered eggshells and kelp in the AM

This is not affecting their laying, but eggshells (or any extra calcium) shouldn't be added to the feed. Provide it on the side for birds who need it to take it.

Since you're not free feeding, how quickly are they eating the fermented feed? Is there enough that they still have some to eat a few hours after you serve it, or are they gobbling it up and then going without for hours?

 

[minou33]

They likely will lay soon. However, where I am the days are getting shorter and my pullets (close to the same age as yours) haven’t started either. They need a certain amount of daylight hours to lay an egg, and with the days shortening, they don’t have that. They could also be molting or just not ready to start!

I'm new at this, but I thought pullets do not molt their first year?

 

[minou33]

I agree with @CHlCKEN. What breed are your pullets?

A new hampshire red, a cream legbar, and a black copper maran

 

[minou33]

This is not affecting their laying, but eggshells (or any extra calcium) shouldn't be added to the feed. Provide it on the side for birds who need it to take it.

Since you're not free feeding, how quickly are they eating the fermented feed? Is there enough that they still have some to eat a few hours after you serve it, or are they gobbling it up and then going without for hours?

Hmm... it kind of varies. Sometimes they eat it all sometimes there's still some left in the bowl for the next feeding. I've even tried overfeeding them because my husband thinks I'm starving them. I can't figure it out.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Hmm... it kind of varies. Sometimes they eat it all sometimes there's still some left in the bowl for the next feeding. I've even tried overfeeding them because my husband thinks I'm starving them. I can't figure it out.

As long as they're not starving between meals it's fine, just wanted to make sure this wasn't "enough for 5 minutes" and then the birds only have the option to forage the rest of the time, as optimal nutrition = faster, healthier growth and better condition for laying.

 

[aart]

I'm new at this, but I thought pullets do not molt their first year?

They don't usually molt their first fall/winter....but shorter days can delay onset of lay.