Is this a dud hen?

[germanchickinTX]

Hi everyone!
I'm new to chickens and this site.
I had 3 Buff Orpingtons, now 2 because the dog got my best layer. Although I clipp the wings, she fluttered into the wrong yard...

About 5 wks ago I bought another hen from private. The seller said she would be a 14 months old Ameraucana and would lay blue eggs. She does look like a blue wheaten, except I think she has a longer tail than normal and her pupils are not round, but horizontally elongated... She has not laid a single egg yet!

They are free range, but also get layer pellets and just a little scratch and scraps. Water with vinegar and they live with goats, but can retreat from them into the coop. No molting yet...
Is this "Ameraucana" older than I was told or is she not used to share a nesting box? The other day I had her by herself in the coop and she sat in the box for a couple hours and made a big nest, but no egg.
Otherwise she seems to be fine with eating and drinking and behavior wise; maybe a little softer poop, has some soiled feathers on behind...
Anybody has any insight? My hubs is saying she needs to go into the pot...
Thanks y'all!

 

[Yayah]

The pupil thing you mentioned is whats concerning me... are they uniform on both sides? Have they been consistent or changed shape at all? Do some research on Mareks Disease.

 

[germanchickinTX]

She had these pupils since I got her. I thought this is just how they are. Don't think they have changed...at least not in my possession. Will check out about Mareks...
Thanks!

 

[newmarch2014]

I know nothing about the pupils but....I have heard on the EE site of some EEs taking 40 weeks to lay so if the previous owner was a bit off on age there is still hope maybe. They only have the green egg gene, you can get anything from white to beige to pink to blue to green eggs. It all depends what gene in the mix wins out. I hope you didn't bring one home that has Mareks, good luck.

 

[Yayah]

Hopefully she's just fine & her eyes just appear that way.
To your laying question, sometimes the stress of moving to a new location could affect her egg production. I know you said its been 5 weeks but it's possible! There's a bunch of reasons why she might have stopped... diet, stress (does she get along with the others or is someone picking on her?) I recently had a flock of seramas quit laying due to what I finally figured out might have been not enough privacy in their new run. Just to say that maybe you should give her a little time. Good luck!!

 

[germanchickinTX]

It is pretty peaceful by now. The one chicken that still picked on her the most was the one that got caught by the dog.
Now that Marek's disease scared me somewhat, especially since I just bought a "new used" chicken house...but this one has 6 nesting boxes and will provide way more privacy. Moving the chicken again and the heat we're having here might also add to the situation. Also I'm planning on getting 3-4 more birds...
Thank you all and keep the ideas coming...!

 

[Yayah]

Sorry to have scared you, but it'll be worth it to be on the lookout for symptoms and so forth!

 

[junebuggena]

I know nothing about the pupils but....I have heard on the EE site of some EEs taking 40 weeks to lay so if the previous owner was a bit off on age there is still hope maybe. They only have the green egg gene, you can get anything from white to beige to pink to blue to green eggs. It all depends what gene in the mix wins out. I hope you didn't bring one home that has Mareks, good luck.

There is no 'green' egg gene. Green eggs are the result of a blue egg gene combined with a brown egg gene.

 

[newmarch2014]

There is no 'green' egg gene. Green eggs are the result of a blue egg gene combined with a brown egg gene.

green - blue, some color besides white.... I am not a genetic expert can you tell?

 

[junebuggena]

There are only two colors for eggs shells. Blue egg shells are blue inside and out. White egg shells are white inside and out. Brown eggs are white eggs with a brown coating. They are brown outside, but white on the inside. Green eggs are really blue eggs with a brown coating on the outside making them look green. Different brown 'coating' genes affect how much coating gets applied creating the different shades of brown and green eggs.