Pullets not laying

[Alagrace]

Hi, I'm new to raising chickens (I did when I was younger) and i'm wondering if I need to do something to encourage laying for my pullets. I have 8 pullets (1 black sexlink, 1 buff orphington, 2 wyandottes, 1 black astralorp, and 3 Ameraucana. They are over 6 months old. Is this normal? Any suggestions on how I can encourage them to start laying? I am feeding them free grower feed and fresh water daily. They have 4 medium size nesting boxes and 2 large ones. They also have 2 long perches. Thanks.

 

[Mountain Peeps]

Welcome to BYC!

They should start laying any day. Are they squatting? Are their combs big and red? Are they investigating the nests? All these are signs that the eggs are near! Some ways to encourage them to lay include: placing fake eggs in the nests and making sure they have plenty of water and food.

 

[Alagrace]

Thank you! Mine still have fairly small combs. Maybe the person I bought them from told me they were older than they really were at the time. I will have more patience then and, I will get some fake eggs.

 

[Mountain Peeps]

Thank you! Mine still have fairly small combs. Maybe the person I bought them from told me they were older than they really were at the time. I will have more patience then and, I will get some fake eggs.

Then they probably still have a couple weeks ahead of them yet. Just be patient.

 

[Blooie]

I can tell you exactly when you'll get your first egg. It will be when you aren't home for a couple of days. Yep, those sneaky chickens have internal alarms that are set for a time known only to them, and it always coincides with the few times you aren't out there checking and re-checking nests. Then you'll go out there and presto! There'll be 3 eggs in one nest and you'll have no cotton pickin' idea which birds laid them. They'll play that game with you for about a week. <sigh> Silly doggone chickens! They've done that to me 2 years running. They also love the "lay-one-on-the-coop-floor-so-she-steps-on-it-as-soon-as-she-comes-in" game. They really like that one...so much that they'll play it for a few days and then switch to the nests. They do this so that they can have a good laugh at your expense as you get into the habit of opening the door and dancing over to the nests boxes so you don't step on any more. So far score, chickens 2, me 0.

Patience. Yours may well be getting close, and some chickens just take their time getting the assembly line going.

 

[ChickenMammX4]

Are you sure of their age? Can you post a pic? They probably are younger than you thought. I have BSL, BO & BA, they started laying around 18-20 weeks. It's hard waiting for that first egg, I know!

 

[Alagrace]

These are my girls! I think they definitely are younger than I thought.