My girls won’t lay☹️

[whatbeginsabetnotthat]

Hi y’all! I have 4 two year old hens and 10 twenty eight week old pullets who aren’t laying. My hens were molting about two months ago but still haven’t picked laying back up. I get maybe one egg every three days if I’m lucky. My pullets haven’t layed a single egg and aren’t showing any signs of starting soon. I feed them a layers feed mix and have oyster shells available for them. I also have a light in their coop because of the earlier sun set. it kinda feels like they are all laughing in my face about the free food tbh any tips? My fam is talking about getting rid of the “freeloaders” so I need help. Oh, my pullets are lavender orpingtons, black copper Marans, speckled Sussex, barnevelders, and Easter eggers and my hens are a sapphire gem, a black Australorp, a white leghorn and a silver leghorn.

 

[nuthatched]

What's their complete diet?
They may not lay until about late February/early March, because of daylight. If they weren't laying before the use of lights, they may not lay anyway.

 

[whatbeginsabetnotthat]

The use a layers feed mix, oyster shells, and they forage A TON. Or at least they did before we got a hunting lab

 

[AshVau22]

Are they kept in a run or do they get to let out? Is it possible some could be laying elsewhere ? I know I have some hens that lay somewhere I just haven't found it yet lol

 

[FrostRanger]

Are they kept in a run or do they get to let out? Is it possible some could be laying elsewhere ? I know I have some hens that lay somewhere I just haven't found it yet lol

Even in a run they can be surprisingly clever hiding nests, confine them to their run if they aren't already for a few days and scour the run for a hidden nest

 

[nuthatched]

The use a layers feed mix, oyster shells, and they forage A TON. Or at least they did before we got a hunting lab

What is the feed mix, specifically?

 

[whatbeginsabetnotthat]

Are they kept in a run or do they get to let out? Is it possible some could be laying elsewhere ? I know I have some hens that lay somewhere I just haven't found it yet lol

…. Ummmm doesn’t foraging mean to be let out? I think so at least… did I use the wrong term??oh dear me. Sorry!! Yes they get let out

 

[whatbeginsabetnotthat]

I’ve checked many many many times in the run and around our woods for egg clutches and there haven’t been any.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

A Layer feed does not make them lay, or help them lay. It just contains calcium which they need IF they are laying. If you are supplying them calcium in the form of oyster shells, you could switch to a feed that contains more protein, like an all-flock or grower formula, which can contain up to 20% protein, and see if that helps. Once they start laying they will help themselves to as much oyster shell as they need.

 

[AshVau22]

Or at least they did before we got a hunting lab

…. Ummmm doesn’t foraging mean to be let out? I think so at least… did I use the wrong term??oh dear me. Sorry!! Yes they get let out

The reason for my question was in reference to your response about the new hunting lab. So I was curious if they are currently unable to free range. So them laying elsewhere wouldn't be a possibility. But since they are still able to free range it is a possibility some are hiding them. But you also have to take into consideration the breed and age. I honestly wouldn't except much for 4 year old hens after a molt and heading into winter. Maybe couple eggs here and there. Most of the 28 week olds you probably won't see many eggs till early spring. With winter coming it's low egg production time. I have around 30 girls of different ages and breed and I get 5-6 eggs a day right now.