My 28 week hens still have yet to produce..

[oherrera]

is there something wrong that I am doing? We let them out of their coop at 5am, close the door at 8pm when they go in, their nesting box has fresh hay (I tried putting fake eggs), we give fresh water daily, several times actually. We live in Denver so its been 80-90s, we won a 40 pound bag of purina chicken feed, do we need a specific diet or is that sufficient? My husband has set a deadline for them, and if they don't lay consistently by 8/11/13, he says they have to go.. We got them 3/22/13 and they are very comfortable around us, our 3 daughters and our labs.

 

[Chick Charm]

Free Range chickens tend to find hidden private places to lay. I suspect that may bee happening IF THEY ARE ACTUALLY 28 WEEKS OLD.

Some hens will take 6 to 9 months to begin laying. Though it is likely that some hatchery chicks will be at point of lay by 18 to 24 weeks. I suspect your hens are closer to 16 weeks old given the dates you provided. Unless they were 12 weeks old when you bought them. You may be rushing their time table a month or two early. I suspect this may be happening IF THEY ARE CLOSER TO 16 WEEKS OLD.

Oyster shell should be given free choice around point of lay for the extra nutrients they need to produce. There are many feeds available and that will work for your chickens. Layer pellets may be a good option now given that they should be at point of lay or will be shortly.

Wish ya the best.

 

[MossyoakLane]

I can't see their faces, but from what I can tell those chickens look way younger than 28 weeks.

Some breeds can take up to a year to lay. I wouldn't give up yet.

 

[Araucana16]

My first hens started laying in late August, and I got them late March, like you. I also live in Denver.

Around this time that year, it was cooler than it is this year (it's positively broiling over here

) but my hens looked about like that, and they weren't to lay for over a month. Give it a few weeks, minimum. I think we saw first eggs around my birthday (August 19th.)

 

[oherrera]

We got them when they were 12-14 weeks. The barred rock was the youngest they said. I am guessing they are now 27-29 weeks. I have fallen in love with them so I'm trying my hardest to prolong giving them a chance. We have layer pellets but I will go and get oyster like recommended. thanks y'all!

 

[Araucana16]

Do you have any photos of when you first got them?

 

[MossyoakLane]

I, too, would love to see picture of them when you first got them. Do you have more than the 3 pictured? I don't see a Barred Rock in the picture. I would also love to see a current picture of their faces. It can tell you if they are close to point of lay.

There is no set time for laying for a chicken. there are so many variables (breed, temperature, etc.) The only definite is that it will usually be after 18-20 weeks. It is not unusual at all to have one lay at 30 weeks. I have a 26 week old Partridge Wyandotte that is showing no signs of laying anytime soon.

 

[oherrera]

Here they are when we got them, I will go take one of them now. The barred rock is shy and very hard to get a picture of.. I will go out now.

 

[MossyoakLane]

Here they are when we got them, I will go take one of them now. The barred rock is shy and very hard to get a picture of.. I will go out now.

These chicks look to be about 6-8 weeks old. I am no pro, but mine looked like these when we brought them home. These look like they just feathered in, but no completely (the black ones head is not quite feathered).
That would make them only 21 weeks old or so. If the one in front is an Australorp and the one in back is Gold Laced Wyandotte like I think they are, then I would not expect eggs for another 4 to 8 weeks. Both those breeds can take a while to lay.

 

[graciesmum]

I'm no expert but with my girls I got from chicks and have raise, I would say the second from last pic, that they were 6-8 weeks, and the first pic is about 12-14 weeks, like I say I'm no expert I'm jjust going on how mine look