Rescued chickens not laying

[strutt20]

So this week someone asked me if I wanted 3 hens (2 gold laced Wyandotte and 1 barred rock). His reasoning was they weren't laying and they should have a long time ago. Come to find out they are all about 8 months old. They all look full grown with full combs and wattle. They look pure bred but not sure. The Wyandottes should just now be getting old enough to lay but the rock should have laid several months ago. 1 of the Wyandotte and the rock have a habit of sleeping in the nesting boxes which I am currently breaking them of but when I kick them out of the nest at night those two sleep on the ground instead of on roosting bars like all the others. Not sure if this is immaturity or just bad habit. The barred rock obviously had beak trimmed when young but eats well. If the Wyandottes had theirs trimmed they have healed better and it's less noticeable. Any ideas?

I'll get better pictures later

 

[centrarchid]

Leg coloration indicates they are either laying or in poor nutrition with respect to vitamin A.

Barred Plymouth Rock nor others you have are those where beak trimming is employed. Beak damage can come from other causes.


A little time is required for them to adapt to new location. Consider possibility someone is eating their eggs, most likely one of the rescues.

 

[sumi]

Give them some time. They'll need to settle in at their new home, get comfortable with the rest of your flock and learn. Until they've settled they won't lay and that could take a few weeks.

 

[strutt20]

According to original owner the beaks were obviously trimmed when bought as pullets. Probably not from an upstanding breeder. I will watch closely but the rock has given no indication that the beak had slowed her down.

I fully expected them to take some time to adjust before laying in my coop but my question was more in regards to why they wouldn't have been laying for previous owner. He also stated sleeping in nesting box or on ground was normal activity for when he had them.

 

[sumi]

That could be for a number of reasons, incorrect feeding, stress, parasites... More causes and details here:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/why-are-my-hens-not-laying

 

[centrarchid]

Encourage them to roost up on a proper roost. Get them to eat some greens, acquired free-range in practical. For short-term increase dietary protein levels by using a chick grower in addition to what you are using currently.

Do you have a handle on the percent protein their diet is?

 

[strutt20]

Thank you! I will check that out too. If it is something as simple as lack of nutrition it will fix itself in a few days. I currently have 5 very consistent layers that always have plenty of food. They 5 have taken new girls in without issue

 

[strutt20]

The feed I use has 16% protein. They free range 2-8 hours a day depending on if I'm off or work. It has seemed to be a very good combo for my original flock of layers. I have 5 (3 NH feeds, 1 wellsummer & 1 ameraucana) and I normally average 4 eggs a day

 

[centrarchid]

When I have birds stressed, upping the protein a little typically done for a week or two. I go up to 18% which is lower than they get on extremely high quality free-range forage where they get their fill of insects.

 

[strutt20]

I could try that. I have chick grower w/ 20% for my younger birds. I could mix it in with normal feed