hens still not laying

[Squishychicken]

my Wyandotte Cochin cross is 46 weeks old and she still isn't laying her pelvic bones are 2 fingers apart, comb and waddles are large and red. this has been going on for months though its not some new wattle growth in color or size. I know cochins take forever but 11 months old is along time. my cochins took 9 months not 11!!

my polish are also around 10 months and she still isn't laying either. her pelvic bones are 1.5 fingers apart. she dosent have a comb but her wattles are nice size and color but hers have been like this for a while also.

the polish is in with a c ockerel I have them on layers pellets but am gonna switch them to chicks feed. the Wyandotte cross is in with other laying hens which I am also trying to get on chick feed.

my only delay is the fact that the chick feed only comes in crumbles. I feed fermented feed but the cold temps have forced me to go back to pellets till the weather warms. and the hens spill the chick feed and don't eat it after.

 

[Squishychicken]

and all flock raiser isn't sold at my feed store in my brand i use and I don't want to send in a special order.

 

[Welshies]

What protein levels are they at? Chances are if you've been feeding layer feed like you said, their development is severely delayed and you just have to wait it out.
Take them off of layer feed.
Why?
Well, layer feed often lacks in protein levels. Layer feed usually has 14-16% protein, which is good, but the birds don't thrive on it. Layer feed also has added calcium... so, when fed to non-laying birds (roosters, non laying hens, chicks included) it can cause delayed development, liver damage, and/or calcium overdose.
Switch to an 18%, 20%, or 22% chick grower, all-flock, maintenance, or finisher ration. Then provide oyster shell and insoluble grit free-choice on the side.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Do you think you might have hidden nests somewhere?

 

[Squishychicken]

yes I understand the protein levels. like I said my only delay is the fact that they only have crumbles and not pellets. or else i would have been on go get protein levels a LONG time ago

 

[Squishychicken]

no. no hidden nests they are confined in there run all dat unless there is supercused freeranging. i check every were for eggs at night right before i lock um up.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

no. no hidden nests they are confined in there run all dat unless there is supercused freeranging. i check every were for eggs at night right before i lock um up.

Sound like slow layers then and I simply wouldn't breed them forward or get from the same place in the future. That's a very much unacceptable delay in laying EVEN if they were raised on layer from day 1.

I hope they do start soon for you though. And maybe they will produce more prolifically or longer than those who started younger. They are after all born with all of the ovum they will ever have.

You can add your own protein like meal worms, tuna, chicken, ground beef even peas... that won't change the calcium level though. The kidney failure often talked about by too much calcium OR protein... is more of a risk for those who are predisposed to it in the first place. Which we probably have no way of knowing.

Come on ladies... time to start paying some rent.

 

[junebuggena]

yes I understand the protein levels. like I said my only delay is the fact that they only have crumbles and not pellets. or else i would have been on go get protein levels a LONG time ago

Nothing wrong with feeding a different brand or crumbles, if it better meets the needs of your flock. It's better than force feeding them all that calcium that layer feed has.

 

[Squishychicken]

no, what I'm saying is i feed fermented feed but leaving the dry crumbles out my chickens would spill it everywere waisting feed.

I only feed dry feed when the fermented feed is to cold to ferment.

 

[Squishychicken]

I don't think any brands of chicken feed have pelleted chick feed...