Hi all, hope you don't mind me jumping in on this thread... Such a great read.
Ok well as stands i have 10 girlies and 2 roosters. I get at the most four eggs a day two brown from the buff Sussex. two white, one from a black girl (not sure of breed, black very large comb and white earlobes
) and the other from either a seabright or an exchequer leghorn don't know who tho.
Now the two Sussex that lays are just over a year, but the rest of my girls are all the same age 1 in June, but only two are laying? The other ones are light Sussex, RIR, leghorn.
I've been wondering the reason why the near one year olds still are not Laying when two of the same age are. Confused a little.
3 out of 4 eggs today btw.
Welcome Nicole! Hello from California.
Really is a mystery about why your hens aren't laying. The first laying season is usually the best, too. Is it possible they are laying in a spot you haven't yet discovered? Could you have some critter stealing/ eating the eggs? In parts of the US there are rat snakes, relatively harmless, but they will eat eggs.
That aside, all the things I can think of that will delay or stop a chicken from laying can be put in a few categories: genetics, environmental, disease/illness, and psychological.
Nothing you can do about genetics. Some just don't lay much and/or start later. Broodiness will prevent laying. Like Cheeka and gilcamp4 said, you could actually have more hens laying, just not every day.
Any changes in routines or environment can freak them out and delay laying for a while. Unless you have ultra sensitive hens, this probably isn't the problem. If they are overcrowded, the stress could cause problems for some. Maybe some need a little supplement to their normal feed; metabolisms will vary.
Possible diseases are many. If it's something like tumors or internal laying, there's not much you can do. Parasites are probably the most common cause of health problems, and fortunately you can treat for these. Worms, mites, and lice are very common and can be passed by wild birds. I would give each hen a thorough exam. If she seems too thin and light (there should be some muscle around the keel bone), parasites are a good bet. If comb and faces are a bit pale, they could be anemic from the evil blood-suckers. Check around their vents. If the skin is red, swollen, or dirty looking, then you should treat for mites. Look for egg casings at the base of feathers around the tail. Also, check the coop late at night with a light. Red mites live in the coop and come out at night while the birds roost to suck their blood. Worms are harder to detect, but a veterinarian can do a fecal test to see if there are worm eggs. Some people treat for worms routinely if they are a known problem in the area. Even if only one bird has signs of parasites, treat the whole flock.
Lastly, psychological. Maybe they're just messing with you!
Playing chicken mind games.
Making you crazy with wait and worry.
The two common approaches to deal with this are 1) to give copious amounts of treats, especially pie, OR 2) beat them at their own game by reading them bedtimes stories from the poultry section of your favorite cookbook.
Hope you can solve the mystery, and we really would love to see pics of your flock!
She did it!!! Big for a first egg. Did you eat it yet?
That's my kind of rooster! 
Thank you for my morning belly laugh! 
