how to get my hens to lay

[dtl2013]

Hey everbody Im new to this,

I have 4 RIR hens and 1 RIR rooster..my hens are 25 weeks old and havnt started laying yet..is there any way i can jump start them to start layin ? or feed them something ?

 

[terryg]

Are you sure they're not laying? If they free-range they could be leaving their eggs in hiding places. If you live in the south, you might have an egg-eating snake coming into the barn. There's not one feed that will get them to start, but if they are skinny and weak they won't be able to lay. Put them on a sound, sensible diet (info here: http://hencam.com/faq/what-to-feed-your-chickens/) and make sure that they have plenty of water! I'm sure you'll have eggs soon.

 

[dtl2013]

There not free range they stay in my coop...my hensare starting to lose their feathers is that a sighn for anything ?

 

[CochinBrahmaLover]

Actually, feeding them laying pellets will help.

Are they on a healthy diet? What are they eating? Do they have water 24/7? If you answer yes, then they are laying and you either have a egg eating snake or they are hiding them from you

 

[CochinBrahmaLover]

There not free range they stay in my coop...my hensare starting to lose their feathers is that a sighn for anything ?

Oooh, their molting.... They shouldn't lay much if at all during molt.

How long have they been molting? (losing feathers)

 

[7 Biddies]

Hey everbody Im new to this,

I have 4 RIR hens and 1 RIR rooster..my hens are 25 weeks old and havnt started laying yet..is there any way i can jump start them to start layin ?

Have you tried squeezing them real hard?

 

[CochinBrahmaLover]

Have you tried squeezing them real hard?

LMAO!

I've felt like doing that some days!

 

[dtl2013]

wow thats funny

...yes they are on a healthy diet and i checked every spot in coop...i guess il wait a couple of weeks and see what happens

 

[CochinBrahmaLover]

when did they start molting?