Not yet laying, behavior concerns.

[Themotherofchickens]

Hello.

I need some help. First off, it’s been up to -5 degrees the past few weeks (Michigan). My chickens were born the first week in August. I started with 9. One disappeared. About a month a ago another one was killed by a hawk in front of the her sisters. Now i have 7. They are all Isa reds.

Of the 7, none have ever laid an egg. I put straw in the nesting boxes and switched them to layer pellets about 2 weeks ago.

So far all they do is poop in the nesting box. More importantly, they don’t leave their “bedroom” often. They will not leave the run to go outside and mostly just come down for water and food then go back to their bedroom. I have a terrible coop and went today to get a new one from a neighbor who builds them but it won’t be available for pick up until Saturday.

Lastly, some of them have flesh colored combs and only 3 of them have, what i would call, mature combs and gobbler things under their necks. Are they having stunted growth??

I’m highly concerned. I have done a lot of research. I have put the parasite treatment in their water. I have always cleaned all the poop and shavings every morning in their bedroom and replace new.

Does anyone think there is something wrong? Or any idea of things i can change? Their eyes look happy and they love treats. All eating and drinking.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I really wouldn't expect August hatched chicks to be laying yet. That's less than 5 months. They won't be laying until their combs and WATTLES grow and turn bright red and the space between their pointy pelvic bones to be at least 2 finger width.
You never mentioned what they have been fed since you got them. (i.e. protein % and calcium %)
Today, daylength was 39 minutes longer than winter solstice where I'm located.

 

[lcwmt]

I am NOT an expert.
It seems to me though, that your pullets are young and not yet at point of lay...
a. August chicks, b. not bright red combs and wattles. Not "stunted growth" just they are not yet mature.
(are they "squatting" when they are near you? that is another indication of being close to laying.)
Daylight is thin right now... My guess is that come longer days and some warmer temps they'll begin laying. All in good time. be patient.

 

[sbhkma]

First, take them off layer and put them on all flock or chick raiser-20% protein. They do not need layer until they're laying and you can actually feed them all flock alll the time and just have free choice oyster shell for their calcium needs. They'll eat it when they need it.

Also, with the short daylight hours they're not inclined to lay yet. We're getting longer days, so start look for reddening of the combs and wattles and squatting behavior. You should NOT let them sleep in the nest boxes. Do you have roosts for them? If not, you need them. If so, are they higher than the nest boxes-they need to be.

In addition, straw isn't a good idea in nest boxes. It holds moisture too much and it's great for attracting mites (you don't want mites). Pick up some plain pine wood shavings instead.

Treats-remember, it's nice for them to have but it should never be more than 10% of their daily diet. It's like letting kids fill up on candy instead of nutritious meals

Once their needs are met and the days are longer, they'll lay for you. I have some 10 month olds that haven't laid yet. *sigh*

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Oh, yeah. Thanks @sbhkma, I forgot to mention nests.
While they aren't laying, you need to completely clean the nests, put in new bedding and block them off so the birds can't go into them and force them to sleep on roosts. The roost needs to be wide enough so they can completely cover the toes with feathers when they hunker down.

Also, it is possible they could be stunted because we don't know what they've been fed during their lives.

 

[Themotherofchickens]

Wow. This is a lot of info. Thank you so much for your replies.

They were previously fed Organic grower crumble feed. Something i got at tractor supply. I just tried to find a photo online and cannot. I will go back and buy what you suggested and get rid of the pellets.

Also i do use pine shavings and just added straw to one nesting box recently to see if they wanted to lay eggs. The other box is blocked off by boxes. I will switch this back to being blocked off also.

They do have two roosting bars that they sleep on.

None of them are squatting. When they see me they just come running for treats. I do feed them all my kitchen scraps so probably over doing it on the treats. Normally just one large paper plate full daily for them all to share.

Is it still possible their combs are pale due to parasites? Or are they just not mature yet? Glad to have learned the wattle term. It’s hard to understand what’s being said on these boards without the proper lingo.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

You're all good.
They aren't mature yet and not in danger.
They don't decide to lay eggs. When they are mature and daylength is right, they will ovulate. They can't help it. Ovulation is the same in birds as in mammals (think humans)
When conditions are right, and they are sexually mature, their combs and wattles will enlarge(for the breed) and turn bright red. When eggs are imminent the space between the pelvic bones will expand to allow passage of an egg. Again, think about how it compares to childbirth in mammals.

 

[lcwmt]

Wow. This is a lot of info. Thank you so much for your replies.

They were previously fed Organic grower crumble feed. Something i got at tractor supply. I just tried to find a photo online and cannot. I will go back and buy what you suggested and get rid of the pellets.

Also i do use pine shavings and just added straw to one nesting box recently to see if they wanted to lay eggs. The other box is blocked off by boxes. I will switch this back to being blocked off also.

They do have two roosting bars that they sleep on.

None of them are squatting. When they see me they just come running for treats. I do feed them all my kitchen scraps so probably over doing it on the treats. Normally just one large paper plate full daily for them all to share.

Is it still possible their combs are pale due to parasites? Or are they just not mature yet? Glad to have learned the wattle term. It’s hard to understand what’s being said on these boards without the proper lingo.

they are just young. No worries. Come warm weather, they'll do their jobs.

 

[sbhkma]

If their weight is good and they are active and alert, they should be fine. Just not at POL (point of lay) yet. Should be soon. I know the feed you mentioned and it's good feed. Go back to it or get flock raiser but be sure to have a bowl of oyster shell for them to dip into as they get ready to give you lovely colorful fresh eggs.

 

[sourland]

You have received excellent advice. The only thing I would add (and I may have missed this) make sure that the roosts are higher than the nest boxes. Birds generally tend to roost at the highest point possible. Good luck and patience. They will lay.