My hens @ 6.5 months are still not laying

[Folly's place]

Your pullets are very nice!
Mary

 

[pallas]

Are you giving them oyster shells?

 

[PirateGirl]

They lay when they are ready to lay. My fist Flock he 5 chickens, each a different breed. The first laid at about 5.5 months of age and the last at just over 11 months. Some are slow to mature and as daylight gets shorter it slows them down even more. Be patient. As others mentioned, once their combs and wattles grow in big and red they are very close!

 

[Folly's place]

For winter; chickens need/ want fourteen to sixteen hours of light daily to maintain good egg production, so a small light bulb on a timer starting at about 4am every morning will do very well. If you don't add supplemental lighting, you will likely still get some eggs, especially this first winter, but not as many.
You can choose either way, but not switch back and forth, so decide by mid-September at the latest.
Mary

 

[True Patriot]

Coming up on fall/winter egg production normally is slow anyway. As others have posted, the amount of daylight has a lot to do with it. They may also start molting, another slow time for eggs. Since yours are still young(ish) they may not be ready yet. Generally, the comb will turn red before they start laying. If any haven't turned yet, it will still be a bit. There's always a bit of discussion around feed. Everyone has their preference and style. The important things with feed that are generally accepted by everyone. The feed has to be fresh. Don't buy more than your chickens can eat in about 30 days. Once grains are milled they rapidly lose nutritional value. It has to be balanced. Wether you buy pellets or crumble make sure it has the nutition they need. Scratch, is a treat and should not be considered feed. Protien, this is the building blocks for growing, eggs, feathers. It's one of the most important (and talked about) numbers on a bag of feed. Chickens have to have protien, how much will vary depending on factors like age, laying, how much free range forage they get. Generally between 16-20%, there are many discussions on this if you're interested. Treats, should be thought of like candy or cake. Everyone eats some, even if they don't like to admit it. Giving treats is fine, and they love it (who can blame them) but it should be no more than 10% of what they are given. There are healthy things to give, also many discussions on the topic. Hope some of this helps. Best of luck.

 

[cmom]

I agree with the others. They may not have started laying yet but should start soon or some may have started laying and have found a spot to lay. Usually if one lays in a spot the others may too.

 

[chickenalia]

Do the Combes turn dark red as they mature?

The comb and wattle turn dark red as they get ready to lay. It remains red and dark until they “rest” from laying when it goes paler pink and washed out looking. Then as they come into lay it will get redder again. Hope this helps

 

[aart]

Agrees, layer feed is meant to be a sole ration,
the other foods are diluting the nutrition in the feed.

They look ready...time for a butt check:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/who-is-laying-and-who-is-not-butt-check.73309/
If pelvic points are spread, might be time for some confinement.
Free range birds sometimes need to be 'trained'(or re-trained) to lay in the coop nests, especially new layers. Leaving them locked in the coop for a week or so can help 'home' them to lay in the coop nests. Fake eggs/golf balls in the nests can help 'show' them were to lay. They can be confined to coop and maybe run 24/7 for a few days to a week, provided you have adequate space and ventilation, or confine them at least until mid to late afternoon. You help them create a new habit and they will usually stick with it. ..at least for a good while, then repeat as necessary.

 

[594chickens]

Thank you all for the info. I will be sure to let you know when they finally begin

 

[594chickens]

My hens are about 8 months and nothing. Not even 1 egg