Still no eggs?

[CrazyFowlFreak]

What are we doing wrong??? The big girls are 7+ months, RIR, BO, Black Australorp, and the young girls are approx 4 months. Shouldn't the big girls be laying by now? DH is just about ready to eat them all unless they start laying soon!

We feed a mix of finisher, layer, and chick feed, with a little bit of corn. All mixed together in a barrel. They have free access to their run at all times. They are all molting and the nest boxes are filled with bedding, straw, and feathers. Do I need to try the golf balls? Or is the roo causing them to not lay? HELP!!

I love these girls, but we are at the end of our rope here.

 

[TipsyDog]

7 months??? Wow. They should be laying. I feel for you - mine are 20 weeks today and I'm still waiting.

They should probably be on layer now. Also, do your girls free range? They could have a nest somewhere that you don't know about.

If they are molting then they wouldn't be laying, but I don't think they should be molting at 7 months! You could also try a light in the coop to extend daylight for them. Give them about 14 hours total daylight.

 

[chickensducks&agoose]

mine are 21 weeks plus 3 days.... no eggs...

 

[wombat]

7 months = about 28 weeks, a bit late, but not that unusual for large breeds. If they are molting, that's going to affect them coming into lay.

Have you noticed any deepening of the red on their combs and wattles? You'll generally get that when they are getting closer to laying.

The golf balls won't get them to lay, but it will help to get them to lay in the right place.

Also - do they free range? Any chance they are laying in nests that you have not found?

 

[charmedbychickens]

Mine are 23 weeks. No eggs.
Someone suggested the lack of enough daylight hours. I've put a light on a timer now to wake them up at 4AM. Does anyone agree this will help?

 

[in2chickens]

I'm right behind you approaching 24 weeks. My DH tells me he read on the web it can sometimes be upto a year. You better fill the freezer when chickens from the meat market. Isnt he in love with them yet? My DH is.

 

[muddypuddles]

One of my girls is 7 months with no eggs too!

and now, my other girl has stopped laying this week ---maybe the colder weather or maybe molting?

 

[the Pollo Loco]

This is what you do... you've got to play rooster. Kid you not, place your left hand on the head grab it by it's feathers, place your right hand on it's back and shake in a downward motion for about a minute or two. Do this several times a week and presto you will see an egg in no time.

try it now!!!!!

 

[CrazyFowlFreak]

No, they don't free range yet, we're building a fence enclosure so that they can safely. They were all red in the face back in August, but we attributed that to the heat as we figured they were too young to lay. Maybe they're not molting. I just know there are a bunch of feathers inside the coop. The rooster has been trying to get the girls, but they won't let him. Maybe I should remove him? Think he could be stressing them out? Ugh, this is so frustrating! I will try everything you all have recommended, thank you so much!