Production Red not laying

[NatureGirl74]

I have a production red that isn't laying eggs. She's about 9 months old and has never laid any eggs that I'm aware of. I took her out of the coop and put her in a different one for a few days about two weeks ago. I never got any eggs from her. She still eats, drinks, and appears healthy, but she should have started laying by now. It has been really cold for about a week, but it started warming up. Before that it had been pretty warm for a while. Is she still not ready to lay? I'm getting a little worried about her.

 

[SulkyBantam]

Where did you get her? Is she free range? What does she eat?

 

[NatureGirl74]

Where did you get her? Is she free range? What does she eat?

A friend got her when she was a few days old from a breeder. Not sure exactly where. He didn't end up having enough room for her so we got her when she was 6 weeks old. She is not free range. They have a big run though. She is on 16% Purina layer feed. They have oyster shells in a separate feeder. They get fruits, vegetables, and scratch grains most days.

 

[SulkyBantam]

A friend got her when she was a few days old from a breeder. Not sure exactly where. He didn't end up having enough room for her so we got her when she was 6 weeks old. She is not free range. They have a big run though. She is on 16% Purina layer feed. They have oyster shells in a separate feeder. They get fruits, vegetables, and scratch grains most days.

If you can't find a clutch in the run she's probably just a late starter.

 

[Mamatomany123]

Is she swuatting? If shes not laying yet then she shouldnt be on layer feed.

 

[NatureGirl74]

Is she swuatting? If shes not laying yet then she shouldnt be on layer feed.

Sometimes she squats and clucks, but we never get any eggs. We have 5 other hens that are all laying eggs. 3 are the same age and the other 2 are 2 months younger. They all need layer feed. It's too cold this week to have her out of the coop all alone. We already lost one chicken from the freezing weather.

 

[Mamatomany123]

Sometimes she squats and clucks, but we never get any eggs. We have 5 other hens that are all laying eggs. 3 are the same age and the other 2 are 2 months younger. They all need layer feed. It's too cold this week to have her out of the coop all alone. We already lost one chicken from the freezing weather.

It's best to feed al flock and offer oyster shells. I have 11 laying hens but 4 who are not yet laying. We only feed all fock. Feeding layer feed when they're not laying can permanently damage the kidneys, reduce lifetime egg production and shorten a bird's lifespan.

 

[NatureGirl74]

It's best to feed al flock and offer oyster shells. I have 11 laying hens but 4 who are not yet laying. We only feed all fock. Feeding layer feed when they're not laying can permanently damage the kidneys, reduce lifetime egg production and shorten a bird's lifespan.

Would I start giving them layer feed once they all start laying

 

[Mamatomany123]

Would I start giving them layer feed once they all start laying

You can but I would just keep them on all flock. Eventually you will have some who stop laying because they're molting or because during winter their production slows down. I had 3 going through a hard molt and stil have 1 going through one a month later. They all eat the al flock and the ones who need it will pick at the oyster shells. They know when they need it

 

[NatureGirl74]

You can but I would just keep them on all flock. Eventually you will have some who stop laying because they're molting or because during winter their production slows down. I had 3 going through a hard molt and stil have 1 going through one a month later. They all eat the al flock and the ones who need it will pick at the oyster shells. They know when they need it

I can't get our hens to eat the oyster shells, but their egg shells are thin. I tried putting some food with the oyster shells. They pick out the shells and eat the food.