SILKIE

[LORNA]

HI,CAN ANYONE TELL ME WHY MY SILKIE HEN HASNT LAID ANY EGGS YET,SHE IS 18 MONTHS OLD AND IM SURE SHE SHOULD HAVE STARTED BY NOW-PLEASE HELP!!!!!:|

 

[CarriBrown]

Could be her diet. What are you feeding her?

 

[LORNA]

SHE HAS LAYERS PELLETS,MIXED CORN AND FRUIT,SALAD STUFF,FRESH CORN ETC,IM I MISSING OUT WITH SOMETHING DO YOU THINK,I HAVE ANOTHER CHICKEN WHO IS A MIXED BREED AND SHE LAYS EVERYDAY!

 

[missusduray]

I am no chicken expert but is is possible that she is really a he? I know that silkies can be hard to sex even if they are older.
The other possibility that popped into my head is that, if you dont have a roo maybe this is the dominant hen. Sometimes dominant hens will stop laying (or not lay at all) and protect the flock like a rooster would.
Just my thoughts.
Kristyne

 

[LORNA]

I HAVE ONE SILKIE COCKERAL WHO SEEMS TO BE VERY FRIENDLY WITH HER AND IS QUITE OFTEN ON HER BACK!SHE HAS NEVER CROWED AND GETS ON EXTREMILY WELL WITH MY COCKERAL,IM COMPLETELY BAFFLED!!!SURELY WE SHOULD HAVE HAD ONE EGG BY NOW

 

[missusduray]

Hmmm,
That just makes it all the more puzzeling! Now you really have me stumped. Now I am gonna look in Storey's guide and see what else I can find for you. I will post anything if I find it.
Kristyne

 

[LORNA]

THAT WOULD BE WONDERFUL MANY THANKSXX

 

[silkiechicken]

Does she free range? Is she hiding eggs? Or is she an egg eater that eats her own eggs?

 

[missusduray]

I see nothing is Storeys that talks about a hen that doesnt ever start laying.
Does she appear healthy? Here is what storeys does say about a productive layer.
A good layer is active and alert, eyes are bright and sparkling, comb and wattles are large and bright, shanks are thin and flat, back is wide, abdomen is deep and soft, pubic bones should be wide apart and flexible, vent should be large and moist, plumage should be worn, dry, and dirty, molt should be late, skin should be bleached(in some breeds).
If you find any of this amiss, then we can maybe narrow it down.
Have you tried separating her from the other hen and seeing if they each lay. Maybe she is laying. What color eggs does the other hen lay. A silkies eggs will be white.
I am just throwing ideas out there.
Kristyne

 

[chickiebird]

My 2 young silkies just atarted laying - 2 eggs in a week. Not sure if the same girl lay both eggs, or if each had a turn. But, my eggs were not white, they were a very pale tan colour, almost ivory but darker, and has a few speckles on them. My silkies are black.