None of my chickens are laying eggs- 7 months old

[MrsA510]

Hi,

I've done a fair amount of research on this topic and I've been patient... but I finally have to ask. When are my chickens going to lay eggs??? They are 29 weeks old (7 months) and all have a red comp and waddle. I have 1 Welsummer, 1 Light Brahma, 1 Silver Laced Wyandotte, 1 Cochin and 1 Speckled Sussex. I figured at this age I would have at least one producing some eggs. I live in Northern California and the weather is still warm and sunny with 10 hrs of sunlight. They have a great coop and free-range for part of the day. I've checked around the backyard looking for hidden nests and didn't find any eggs.

What gives?

Thanks in advance for any help.
Erin

 

[Elemes]

Hi, 

I've done a fair amount of research on this topic and I've been patient... but I finally have to ask.  When are my chickens going to lay eggs???  They are 29 weeks old (7 months) and all have a red comp and waddle.  I have 1 Welsummer, 1 Light Brahma, 1 Silver Laced Wyandotte, 1 Cochin and 1 Speckled Sussex.  I figured at this age I would have at least one producing some eggs.  I live in Northern California and the weather is still warm and sunny with 10 hrs of sunlight.  They have a great coop and free-range for part of the day.  I've checked around the backyard looking for hidden nests and didn't find any eggs.  

What gives?

Thanks in advance for any help.
Erin

Hi Erin- just to be sure (maybe you're already doing this) are they in one place until the afternoon so you can make Certain they aren't laying somewhere? Like in the coop with the best boxes or in a closed run? That'd be my suggestion of you haven't tried that yet.

 

[MrsA510]

Most of the time I don't let them out of their coop/run until after 11 or so. Some days I don't let them out at all. Tried that for 3 days in a row last week and still no eggs.

 

[Elemes]

Most of the time I don't let them out of their coop/run until after 11 or so.  Some days I don't let them out at all.  Tried that for 3 days in a row last week and still no eggs.

Okay. What are they eating?

 

[dekel18042]

Hi,

I've done a fair amount of research on this topic and I've been patient... but I finally have to ask. When are my chickens going to lay eggs??? They are 29 weeks old (7 months) and all have a red comp and waddle. I have 1 Welsummer, 1 Light Brahma, 1 Silver Laced Wyandotte, 1 Cochin and 1 Speckled Sussex. I figured at this age I would have at least one producing some eggs. I live in Northern California and the weather is still warm and sunny with 10 hrs of sunlight. They have a great coop and free-range for part of the day. I've checked around the backyard looking for hidden nests and didn't find any eggs.

What gives?

Thanks in advance for any help.
Erin

How long has it been since their combs turned red? I've found mine start laying between a week and a month after it reddens up. Are they squatting?
Excellent advice on seeing if they could be laying elsewhere.
I've had welsummers but none of the other breeds you mentioned and the welsummers were the oldest I ever had start laying. They were over eight months old, close to nine, and they didn't start until we were past the winter solstice and the days started getting longer.
I have some that just passed the six month mark and I'm still waiting for eggs from them.

 

[MrsA510]

Okay. What are they eating?

Organic layer feed, organic scratch, healthy table scraps and weeds. I also offer crushed egg shells.

 

[bald Rooster]

I bought 12 baby on April 28 they were a few days old. I lost five to a couple different things. The remaning 7 are doing fine.
One turned out to be a nice Rooster.
As far as eggs go my Speckled hen started laying in aug. just over 4 months.none of the others did till well into 5 months old.
I have one hen that still isn't laying. And Ive noticed a slight slowing of eggs the last week from all.

 

[aart]

Quote: Welcome to BYC!

How long have they been on layer feed?
They really shouldn't eat that until they are actually laying...the lower protein can actually delay their physical maturity.
Pullets coming to maturity in the shortening days can be slower to come into lay.
Several/most of those breeds can be slower to mature...so you may just have to be patient for longer yet.
Put them back on a higher protein feed...and cut down on the other foods.
Anything other than the approriate chicken ration should be kept to less than 10% total feed volume per day.

 

[ChickNanny13]

I was given 5 Blue Wynadotte Pullets last month, they were about 28wks now 32wks & still not laying

The lady I got them from had them on Layer since they were 18wks, I prefer MultiPurpose or Flock until they lay but she said "they'll be laying soon" and gave me the bag. I do FF so it lasts "forever". Their combs/wattles have been red this past week but I'm thinking maybe the end of the month. No squatting yet but they're now showing interest in the nest box.

When they start laying and/or she finds a Blue Cock, 3 will go back to her. There are no Blues here in the Islands of Hawaii and they are pretty. This is a pic of them when I first got them....

 

[MrsA510]

Welcome to BYC!

How long have they been on layer feed?
They really shouldn't eat that until they are actually laying...the lower protein can actually delay their physical maturity.
Pullets coming to maturity in the shortening days can be slower to come into lay.
Several/most of those breeds can be slower to mature...so you may just have to be patient for longer yet.
Put them back on a higher protein feed...and cut down on the other foods.
Anything other than the approriate chicken ration should be kept to less than 10% total feed volume per day.

They have been on layer feed since they were about 22/23 weeks old. They are out of food, so I will go back to the grower food. Thanks for the info. I really appreciate it!