Squatting for a month, still no eggs

[renbrant]

Hi there! I have a small backyard flock-- just an EE and a barred rock lady. My EE started laying around a month ago, and has been a good producer. My barred rock started squatting around the same time as my EE, but still has not produced a single egg. My EE has been laying in the nest box and her eggs are never messed with, and I have never seen a shell fragment around, so I don't think she is an egg eater.... I have searched all over my backyard and haven't found any secret egg stashes.
I always thought I read that squatting meant they were very close to laying. However, being in Texas, most days it hits 100 degrees at least. Maybe the heat is slowing her down? My EE lays almost every day; what a trooper she is.

 

[BethLouMcCormick]

how old is she

 

[aart]

Welcome to BYC!

So she's:
Squatting:
If you touch their back they will hunker down on the ground, then shake their tail feathers when they get back up.
Tho not all birds will do this, especially if there's a cockbird in the flock.
This shows they are sexually mature and egg laying is close at hand.

Combs and Wattles:
Plump, shiny red - usually means laying.
Shriveled, dryish looking and pale - usually means not laying.
Tho I have found that the combs and wattles can look full and red one minute then pale back out the next due to exertion or excitement, can drive ya nuts when waiting for a pullet to lay!

Vent Appearance:
Dry, tight, and smaller - usually not laying.
Moist, wide, and larger - usually laying.

Pelvic Points, feel for the 2 bony points(pelvic bones F-F) on either side of vent:
Less than 2 fingertip widths apart usually means not laying.
More than 2 fingertip widths apart usually means laying.
(Spacing is relative with chickens size and humans finger size.)

If she meets all those criteria, lock her up.
Free range birds sometimes need to be 'trained'(or re-trained) to lay in the coop nests, especially new layers. Leaving them locked in the coop for 3-4 days (or longer) can help 'home' them to lay in the coop nests. Fake eggs/golf balls in the nests can help 'show' them were to lay. They can be confined to coop 24/7 for a few days to a week, or confine them at least until mid to late afternoon. You help them create a new habit and they will usually stick with it. ..at least for a good while, then repeat as necessary.

 

[Kzdnae]

I have two hens that have been squatting over the “two weeks” and still no eggs. I’m wondering if it’s he west Texas heat too