I told 4 hens that just started laying a few weeks previous to a friend and they have not layed an egg for over a month, then, sold 8 more hens to another friend and I just heard those havent laid yet either. Im starting to look like a bad friend here, whats going on? Could it be stress or maybe that I have roosters and neither of my friends do? Anything we can do to get them started? I've heard talk of a butchering party if they dont get started soon, YIKES!!!
The stress, changes in routine, feed, and change in weather will affect the hen's laying. Laying an egg has NOTHING to do with roosters! Roosters are only needed for fertilized eggs.
I sold an Ameraucana hen to a friend, along with some chicks, etc. last year. She was a great layer, less than a year old, rarely missing a day. She laid eggs for a week or so after she moved, then exploded into a terrible molt and never laid another egg! EVER. It's been almost a year, too.