New flock not laying

wolfatron

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My 26 week old hens and my recently added 12 month old belgian duccles are not laying yet. What is wrong with these girls? Have done a troubleshooting check list. Feed? Good. Light? Getting darker but still ok. Water? Good. Health? Fine. Stress? I don't think so (not they're telling me but you know what kids are like!). What to do?
 
The same thing happened with my hens. I had 9 hens that were about a year and a half old when I got more chicks to add to the flock. My older birds were all laying well, and I was counting the weeks until the pullets began laying as well. But Summer came and went, then fall hit, and ALL the girls stopped laying. I thought it may have been due to their molt. But they all got their beautiful new feathers, and still no eggs. I checked everything you mentioned; stress, light, protein ratio in their feed...getting enough calcium...
Then I realized they had always been free range, but after a loose dog attack, we'd built them a run in late fall. I had always broken up their shells and put them in the compost pile in the yard, and they would eat them when they were rummaging through the compost. They hadn't had any since being confined to the run. So I started sprinkling oyster shell along the fence of the run, and they started laying, like, the NEXT day! I noticed some of those first eggs had shells that were "wrinkled," and noticed them get stronger after a few days. So I now offer oyster shell daily when I feed, and am back to enjoying an egg bounty!
 
It is quite normal for a new pullet to stop laying when she changes homes. Do not worry she will begin laying soon when she feels comfortable. I once had a new pullet take two months before she began to lay again. That's the longest I've ever had to wait. Do not worry if she is in good health she should start up again soon. Hope this helps and best wishes to you!
 

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