No Eggs Yet? 9 months old

[CluckmoreEstate]

Hoping for some advice, I have 5 chickens and no eggs.
They're all 9 months or older and it just seems odd. I know some can take up to a year, I have a Brahma, Easter Egger, Ameracauna and 2 silkies.

They do free range but I've checked the places they usually hang out and no eggs. The only thing that could be stealing them is squirrels but I've also left them in the coop to see if they'd lay in the coop/run and nothing.

They're on layer pellets, free range, access to grit and always have water.
We did just have to put one down who lost use of her legs, we thought it was Marek's but it ended up she had some mycotoxins on her liver (even though their food isn't moldy!) and an inactive ovary. I'm worried something else could be going on with the other 5, I do worm them as well.

Not sure what else I can do or try, we love them but really wanted eggs!

 

[Wezdin]

Do you feed them oyster shell for calcium? that could be a reason. If you post pictures of their combs you can usually tell if they're about to lay.

 

[PirateGirl]

Do you live in a part of the world where the days are getting shorter?
When the days are getting shorter at the same time that birds are maturing they get mixed signals. Sometimes they will not lay until after the solstice (shortest day of the year) when the days start getting longer again. If everyone seems healthy otherwise, I wouldn't worry too much about it.

 

[rosemarythyme]

They've never laid at all? That would be unusual to get nothing by 9 months. They can be really sneaky with hiding nests. Try locking them into the coop/run for a couple days, that way they'll have no choice but to lay where you can see them.

 

[aart]

free range....

We did just have to put one down who lost use of her legs, we thought it was Marek's but it ended up she had some mycotoxins on her liver

How were the mycotoxins discovered...necropsy with lab cultures?


Might be time for some exams:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/who-is-laying-and-who-is-not-butt-check.73309/
Then maybe:
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.


Oh, and....Welcome to BYC! @CluckmoreEstate
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, (laptop version shown), then it's always there!

 

[CluckmoreEstate]

Do you feed them oyster shell for calcium? that could be a reason. If you post pictures of their combs you can usually tell if they're about to lay.

yes I feed oyster shells! Well I put them out but I don't think I've ever seen them actually eat them.

 

[CluckmoreEstate]

Do you live in a part of the world where the days are getting shorter?
When the days are getting shorter at the same time that birds are maturing they get mixed signals. Sometimes they will not lay until after the solstice (shortest day of the year) when the days start getting longer again. If everyone seems healthy otherwise, I wouldn't worry too much about it.

Okay, just seems odd we've never gotten an egg from any of them. We're in North Carolina, so it's like from 7am-6pm currently, the days are just starting to get shorter.

 

[CluckmoreEstate]

They've never laid at all? That would be unusual to get nothing by 9 months. They can be really sneaky with hiding nests. Try locking them into the coop/run for a couple days, that way they'll have no choice but to lay where you can see them.

How were the mycotoxins discovered...necropsy with lab cultures?


Might be time for some exams:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/who-is-laying-and-who-is-not-butt-check.73309/
Then maybe:
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.


Oh, and....Welcome to BYC! @CluckmoreEstate
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, (laptop version shown), then it's always there!
View attachment 1935297

Thank you for the welcome! We're in North Carolina, I'll add it to my profile.

Yes we did a necropsy, we ended up having to put her down she deteriorated so quickly. The inactive ovary had me worried too, if there's something that's causing that and affecting all of them- the vet wasn't sure why that would be either. Their feed isn't moldy so I'm not sure if it's possible she ate something that caused it. I do have ceramic eggs in their nesting boxes. I'll try locking them up longer in the mornings, I only did it a day or two a couple weeks ago.

 

[Folly's place]

Keep them in until mid-afternoon anyway, at least for a week or so.
If they actually aren't laying eggs, layer feed is too high in Ca for them. Keep the oyster shell out there, and feed an all-flock type feed instead.
By now somebody should be laying eggs!!!
Is your feed fresh, by mill dates? Make sure it's not old or moldy too.
I have had Ameraucana pullets take eleven moths to come into lay, but your whole flock? No way!
Hidden nests and/ or someone eating eggs out there.
Mary