My Chicken hasn't started to lay...

[WindingRoad]

Hey guys, I got 4 new chickens in late June (I think) and the seller said that he got them as chicks during Chick Days (the one in spring.) He said that he thought one may have started to lay already. They all looked very healthy except for one, who was healthy 90% of the time but sometimes just sat there. For one month, none of them layed eggs. Then, one started to lay. Two weeks later, another. And another two weeks after that, the third one. Now, the weird one I was talking about still hasn't layed. She now looks very healthy but is just sort of bullied. Not very bullied, it's just that she and a couple of other chickens just have standoffs from time to time. She eats/drinks normally, runs and scratches around with the others (just sometimes kind of separate, she's not social), and sleeps in the hen house on her perch with the others. Anybody have any idea why she hasn't layed yet? Should I change her diet or something? Thanks for any help!!

PS They all looked young with small crowns/waddles that have now ground (except for the one who won't lay) and bright legs.

PPS She isn't a rooster because I think that I would know if she was.

Adjusting to new digs can be stressful on chickens. That might be the cause of delayed (see that pun) production. Give her a little more time. How would you know if she is a rooster? Just curious.

 

[JuChicks]

Mine are about the same age and haven’t started laying yet. They’re doing the ‘egg squat’ and making an awful lot of noise in the coop and one was sitting in the nesting box earlier today. But so far no eggs. But they’re just on the verge of being mature enough to lay and with the shorter days of sunlight now that fall and winter are approaching, it may be longer or even next year.

Thanks so much!

 

[JuChicks]

Please check her crop tonight at bedtime and again first thing in the morning BEFORE she has access to food and water. In the picture you've posted, I don't see her crop, and that leads me to wonder if she's being bullied away from the food. While you're checking the crop, you may wish to bring her into the house where the lighting is good and with a light colored rag ruffle her feathers, especially under her wings & at the tail and vent area. Examine her legs, and her feet both top and bottom. After the examination, examine the rag, if any of that dirt on them is moving then she's got external parasites. Feel at her keel (breast bone), is she bony or meaty there?
Her comb doesn't seem as red as her sisters' combs, this could be a maturity issue or a parasite issue. She also seems several ounces (a half pound maybe) lighter than her sisters; hence the exam.
Please keep us posted with your observations.

I wanted to add that I put diatomaceous earth in their food and their run/coop. Not sure if that would stop any parasites.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Excellent, that is as it should be at night, please be sure to check it again in the morning BEFORE she's had access to food or water. You'll be wanting it empty by morning.

I'm not the op.

 

[Ebony Rose]

Ooops ;P

 

[JuChicks]

Excellent, that is as it should be at night, please be sure to check it again in the morning BEFORE she's had access to food or water. You'll be wanting it empty by morning.

Ok, so I was actually just wondering what the heck that bulge was, thanks for explaining that. So, I know that she does have that bulge at least part of the day. I'm gonna check tomorrow morning if it is smaller. What does it mean if it is still large before she eats in the morning? Thanks!

Edited: What if she doesn't even have any dirt on her legs/feet and wings (if she looks like the other chickens)?

 

[Ebony Rose]

You expect dirt in the feathers, what you're hoping for is dirt that is NOT moving

 

[JuChicks]

Adjusting to new digs can be stressful on chickens. That might be the cause of delayed (see that pun) production. Give her a little more time. How would you know if she is a rooster? Just curious.

If she were a rooster, she would have a talon behind her feet and very large tailfeathers/waddle. Plus she would probably be mounting the hens and singing during the day. Never had a rooster though, but I guess that's what would happen...

Thanks for the support btw!

 

[GC-Raptor]

Interesting, I haven’t thought of using a ceramic in the nesting boxes.. Does that actually work to show them where to lay?

It has worked for 3 Flocks over 4 years. GC