how to encourage first time layers?

[NYREDS]

I keep an Axe next to the coop door-seems to motivate them.

 

[CloggingChicken]

We have buff and blue orpingtons and silkies. Some of the Buffs are around 32 weeks and still haven't seen an egg, others started around 27. The blues are around 28 weeks and just starting to get the color in their wattles, haven't seen any laying yet. The silkies we have started around 7 months old.
All I can do is suggest that you wait and watch the standard breed combs and wattles, ours seemed to get larger and very red quickly before they laid. They will all lay when they are ready and it seems that they are somewhat intermittent, with an egg now and possibly skipping a few days for the next.

Good Luck. I started taking a skillet out with mine and got 7 eggs out them today.

Bill