Just over 1/2 of Barred Rocks laying - why?

[rudimyers]

Our Barred Rocks will be six months old the end of August. Out of 11, we have one boy and 10 pullets. We get six eggs every day. So, does anyone know why four are not (apparently) laying? All of them are in a Lowe's shed (with doggie door to a run) at night and free range all day long. Some are laying in the coop and some are laying in pine straw near our house.

 

[Den in Penn]

There may be eight or nine laying. Pullets don't necessarily lay every day, even production crosses. Bared Plymouth Rocks tend to lay five to six eggs a week at their peak of lay. There are a lot of times like winter and the heat of summer they do not do that. So your ten are still starting out they will soon reach their peak in say about the beginning of September.

 

[rudimyers]

Thank you for the great information. Six a day are plenty, but I was just curious what was going on.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Agreed. Barred Rocks, while great layers, aren't sexlinks, or at least aren't supposed to compete with them. Out of 10 hens, 8 laying per day would be outstanding. Also, there's always some late bloomers. Just the way it is. I had a BR pullet last year who took 6 full month to reach POL. It's not uncommon.