Oldest chicken to lay first egg

NaperLix

Songster
6 Years
Mar 1, 2019
141
171
136
Light Sussex( peepers,in back) ,born march2019 ,still no first egg.Some slight signs,she looks for nesting ,then it goes away.
My other light Sussex hens in the past were 5 months to 7 months,first egg.
I have a transgender Wellsummer ,2 years old,who has full Spurs on both feet,and half a rooster call in morning.She also gets frantic to lay ,occasionally,lays in nest,but nothing.
Wondering how old it might straighten out,to actually get an egg.
Not diet issues,,they eat an exceptional diet,full of Layer crumbles,mealworms,flaxseed,oatmeal,lettuce,grit,oyster, corn on cob,fruit,3 x day,and dry food always there.
My other chickens lay almost all year,even now,in winter.Half are laying.
I do not use artificial light,don't like that idea.
They all come out everyday,to play.Get plenty of sun.None are pecked,or ailing in any way.
How often do these hormones get mixed up?
Whether she lays or not,she will be loved and spoiled,forever,but, it would be nice to get an egg.
What's the oldest hen to lay first egg?
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Light Sussex( peepers,in back) ,born march2019 ,still no first egg.Some slight signs,she looks for nesting ,then it goes away.
My other light Sussex hens in the past were 5 months to 7 months,first egg.
I have a transgender Wellsummer ,2 years old,who has full Spurs on both feet,and half a rooster call in morning.She also gets frantic to lay ,occasionally,lays in nest,but nothing.
Wondering how old it might straighten out,to actually get an egg.
Not diet issues,,they eat an exceptional diet,full of Layer crumbles,mealworms,flaxseed,lettuce,grit,oyster, corn on cob,fruit,3 x day,and dry food always there.
My other chickens lay almost all year,even now,in winter.Half are laying.
I do not use artificial light,don't like that idea.
They all come out everyday,to play.Get plenty of sun.None are pecked,or ailing in any way.
How often do these hormones get mixed up?
Whether she lays or not,she will be loved and spoiled,forever,but, it would be nice to get an egg.
What's the oldest hen to lay first egg?
View attachment 2021229
She may come into lay in the spring - it's hard to know with chickens. She may have a reproductive developmental issue and never lays eggs. If you don't find anything like lice/mites, worms, crops dysfunction, exhibiting symptoms of illness, then you'll have to wait and see.

Not sure about transgender. Many hens crow and have spurs...has the Welsummer ever laid eggs at all? At 2yrs old if she did lay eggs before, she may be coming out of winter break soon. Did she molt?
 
Your problem may stem from not enough protein in the diet in spite of the "exceptional" diet. Breed and time of year also would factor in.

Set the layer feed aside until they all are laying. They do not need the extra calcium until then. Eliminate all corn and other starches, cut down on the extra treats, and feed a 20% protein all flock feed, such as Flock Raiser, until they are all laying, or you can continue to feed the Flock Raiser forever as long as you supply oyster shell free choice.

Protein is necessary for layers to build strong bodies and to help their reproductive systems mature. Protein continues to be necessary for egg building once they start to lay. Layer feed is not a necessary thing for backyard chickens. It's a convenience for commercial egg operations so they don't need to bother with oyster shell. Many of us have rejected layer feed because we have mixed flocks and all flock feed is just much easier to deal with because only laying hens should be eating it.
 
To wyorp, yes the 2 year old molted easily in fall.vet says hormone imbalance is the probable cause.
I give layer all year,because they lay too much.Egg bound will happen much easier then kidney issues.however,the non laying wellsummer does not eat layer,at night she's separate.
My chickens have never had bugs ,they're house is fully air conditioned,heated,insulated calked screened,and cleaned ,bleached,every morning.Never straw always pine shavings.Low nests,low roosts.No grass ,rubber matts ,40' ,with lots of sand baths,dirt pots.In July heat,I do flea dust them once,in case.
Natures not perfect.Many species can't reproduce,even though healthy,otherwise.
Just want want to know who knows of the oldest hen to lay first egg?
 
To wyorp, yes the 2 year old molted easily in fall.vet says hormone imbalance is the probable cause.
I give layer all year,because they lay too much.Egg bound will happen much easier then kidney issues.however,the non laying wellsummer does not eat layer,at night she's separate.
My chickens have never had bugs ,they're house is fully air conditioned,heated,insulated calked screened,and cleaned ,bleached,every morning.Never straw always pine shavings.Low nests,low roosts.No grass ,rubber matts ,40' ,with lots of sand baths,dirt pots.In July heat,I do flea dust them once,in case.
Natures not perfect.Many species can't reproduce,even though healthy,otherwise.
Just want want to know who knows of the oldest hen to lay first egg?
But has the 2yr old ever laid eggs?

I don't know of the oldest hen to lay a first egg ---- I would have to say if she's doesn't lay by spring, then likely she never will.
 
Being my chickens lay when my friends are not,says volumes.Thay eat a more natural diet to them,instead of all cornmeal,in layer,dry food.
Food doesn't make them male,genetics do.
I assume nobody knows if a hen has ever laid after a year,so that's that.
 

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