Two hens who never developed full combs, possibly not laying yet.

[cherylwillard1]

Hi all,

I got my chickens last April, 4 barred rocks and 4 wyandottes (plus 1 wyandotte roo). It seems like one of each never sexually matured. One barred rock and one wyandotte have immature looking combs and seemingly never laid an egg. I say seemingly because I've never seen them in the nest box and I never get 8 eggs in a day; it's always 6 or less. Has anyone else ever experienced this? I would assume I'd at least occasionally see all 8 girls give an egg in one day, since they're all so young and were hatched within 24 hours of each other. Other than completely isolating them, is there any way to tell if they're going to lay eggs? I don't know that the roo has ever been at them, either. The other girls show signs of his attentions, but not these two.

If they're not going to lay, I will put them in a pot and get two new hens, as hard as that will be to do. I love the barred rocks, they're super laid back and lay big, beautiful brown eggs. The wyandottes are flighty, and have small but pretty pinkish brown eggs.

Thanks for any help.

 

[Wezdin]

There is a way to measure between the pubic bones to tell if they are laying, can you post pictures of the hens?

 

[cherylwillard1]

There is a way to measure between the pubic bones to tell if they are laying, can you post pictures of the hens?

Yes, when I go collect the eggs, I will try to isolate them and get pics.

 

[Wezdin]

Here is a part from am article here on BYC:
Her pelvis will be wider and if you look at her vent it will be moist and pink.
There is also a simple test you can do to check if your hen is laying/ready. Hold the hen firmly and turn her on her back. Put your fingers on her breast bone and work your way down to her vent area. You should feel 2 bones sticking up. These are her pelvic bones. If you can fit only 1 finger upright between her pelvic bones she's still roughly 4 weeks off laying, 1 and 1/2 fingers means she's a little closer, 2/3 weeks and 2 or more fingers means she's either close to or laying already.

 

[cherylwillard1]

Thanks, I appreciate the information. We had a minor trip to the ER last night for my hubby (his knee gave out and he couldn't put weight on it), so I didn't get back out there to take pics. I will try this technique at my earliest convenience. Then, if they're not laying, I will have to research why hens that are almost a year old wouldn't be laying. Thank you again!

 

[aart]

I'm betting they are all laying.....it's pretty rare to get an egg out of every bird on the same day.
Here's more info on checking pelvic points:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/who-is-laying-and-who-is-not-butt-check.73309/

 

[Wezdin]

just a question, i didnt post the quote in message no.5, somehow it got quoted as me saying it

 

[Wyorp Rock]

just a question, i didnt post the quote in message no.5, somehow it got quoted as me saying it

cherylwillard quoted you just like I'm doing now.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Oh!!! I see

Like this.....

I typed in your quote, so it looks like you said it

 

[Wezdin]

Whats weird is that I never said this quote