My Chickens are 8 months old-still no EGGS!

[Mel'sChicks]

I bought 7 australorps and 1 Buff Orpington the second week of May. I was told that they were 18 weeks old, which would make them 32 weeks old this week. One astralorp has laid an egg almost every day for the last two weeks, but NONE of the others. I feed them 16% laying crumbles. What is the deal? I don't know anyone who has chickens, so I can't ask anyone! Please help!!!

 

[The Chicken People]

Post pics!

 

[nhnanna]

Hang in there. It could be because of the heat. Some of mine were over 8 months old before they started laying. It depends on the different breeds and the weather I think.

 

[ging3rhoffman]

They may have been wrong about their ages. Can you post a picture of them? My girls started laying their 17th and 18th week..my husband thinks its all the treats i gave them. Dont forget to supply them with oyster shell.

 

[chicknjane]

Do they free range? Is it possible they could be laying them someplace you haven't found? Just a newbie thought.

 

[Mel'sChicks]

They free range on the weekends and I usually let them around 5:00 in the evenings. (Does that "offically" make them "free range?") I read on here somewhere that they combs will become redder when they get close to laying, and it seems that some of them are a little darker (?) The one that is laying (her name is Aphrodite-she will be the first picture I post) makes alot of noise right before and right after she lays, so I don't really think the others are laying around the yard. I will try to post the pictures now-THANKS!!!

 

[Happy Chooks]

I think they were younger than you were told. My chickens looked like that at around 20 weeks.

 

[gjoyner]

I bet the age is off. Mine are 15 weeks and they dont like THAT much younger than yours. And like everyone said..the weather can have an affect. Too cold or too hot.

 

[jenikay63]

I have 2 buff oppington's that look a little bit bigger than yours and they will be 20 weeks tomorrow. So I think maybe your's wasn't as old when you got her as you were told. I have a question somewhat on the same topic. My chickens aren't laying yet either (20 weeks) but I haven't switched them to layer feed or give them oyster shells yet. I read/was told not to until they lay. Is that corerct?

 

[fordmommy]

Yeah. I agree. I think they were much younger than you were told.

This is my BA hatched sometime in March. She's not laying yet either. But very close. She's been squatting for a couple weeks and very red as you can see. I catch her singing and going in and out of the coop the last couple days. But still no eggs.

Good luck to you.