UPDATE: SHE IS SICK!! SUGGESTIONS? UPDATE: Is there a chance a production breed will never produce an egg? see pics of our girl

[SilveryMoon888]

Hi All, We have a Golden Comet (at least that's what we paid for) - she is almost 8 months old. See pics below, taken a few days ago. She has been squatting for almost a month now. No egg. There is no chance of her laying one in the yard without my knowledge as I am out with them 100% of the time when they are free ranging. She acts normal, eats, drinks as normal, is very active and acts happy. I can't figure out why she is not yet laying. I've had a ceramic egg in the layer for months now. I just recently switched to layer feed - they are on Kalmbach 17%. They have always had free choice of grit and oyster shells. Treats are kept to a minimum, definitely less than 10% daily intake and some days none at all. She eats a ton of grass, weeds, and other stuff in the yard and covers a fair amount of ground so she is getting a variety. I check her vent every 2 weeks for health checks. Her eyes, ears, nares and vent are always clear and clean. Her crop is always empty in the morning and definitely full upon roosting. I don't understand why we have yet to see any eggs. I get that the days are getting shorter and temperatures are starting to cool at night, but shouldn't we have seen an egg by now? Unless she is not a Golden Comet, but I wouldn't know the difference. The only difference in behavior I see is that she sort of waddles while she walks or trots vs. flying across the yard to catch up to the younger pullets. I've yet to get a good weight on her but she doesn't feel over weight. This is our first year with chickens so I'm winging it as I go. What do you guys think?

I have two similar looking chooks, and when I bought them the chap said they were ready to lay. One laid straight away, and the other took another week or so. The good layer doesn't miss a day, and the other (who does not seem to eat as much, or is not as quick to catch the worms), misses a day here and there. The good layer, has laid through the winter (in Australia, which is not severe), so not sure what is up with your chick?

 

[SilveryMoon888]

This is probably not at all the issue, but could you post a picture of how she looked at that time / 12 weeks? I'm no expert on chicken age but I've been sold a bird that turned out much older than it was advertised as once I paid more attention to its behavior and fitness (lower activity levels, clumsier movement, longer beak and spurs). She's a great looking hen to me, but extremely hen-like for an about-to-lay pullet to my eyes. But I have zero experience with this breed/cross to be at all sure.

4 years later, I am convinced that I was sold old birds, as my peacock and peahen have large spurs (only found out about this as showing age). The cock displays relentlessly for everyone (ducks, chooks, guineas), the hen is disinterested. No sign of mating, and no sign of eggs. I forgot, when we first brought them home (4 yrs ago), the hen did lay an egg, which was taken by a goanna (I guess?). Nothing since then : (

 

[Bawkbok]

I have two similar looking chooks, and when I bought them the chap said they were ready to lay. One laid straight away, and the other took another week or so. The good layer doesn't miss a day, and the other (who does not seem to eat as much, or is not as quick to catch the worms), misses a day here and there. The good layer, has laid through the winter (in Australia, which is not severe), so not sure what is up with your chick?

She's decided she doesn't want to lay afterall, the trips to the nest have stopped. She may just be reproductive fubar. (how our luck seems to go). I love her anyway and having her around is a lot of fun - eggs would be a huge bonus at this point.

 

[WingItRanch]

She's decided she doesn't want to lay afterall, the trips to the nest have stopped. She may just be reproductive fubar. (how our luck seems to go). I love her anyway and having her around is a lot of fun - eggs would be a huge bonus at this point.

My Blue marans (previously thought she was a blue australorp) laid like a champ for a month then started laying 2 eggs a day. I was really concerned. Now she's on a break and hasn't laid in 2 weeks. I'm ok with that, though. As long as she's healthy. Might not start up again until days get longer in spring. Keep us updated on your girl! Maybe she'll start in the spring.

 

[Bawkbok]

My Blue marans (previously thought she was a blue australorp) laid like a champ for a month then started laying 2 eggs a day. I was really concerned. Now she's on a break and hasn't laid in 2 weeks. I'm ok with that, though. As long as she's healthy. Might not start up again until days get longer in spring. Keep us updated on your girl! Maybe she'll start in the spring.

Will do. I just fed them scrambled eggs for lunch - which she hoovers up like crazy. Afterward, she immediately went to the coop nest as I heard her say - "I better start laying these if I want more, I heard momma threaten a ban on eggs because they're too expensive". haha - I'm finding the humor in all this chicken stuff.

 

[Bawkbok]

Guys, is this fowl pox? I've haven't had to deal with this thus far, so I'm not sure. I noticed it yesterday. There are no bumps or scabs, it actually is flat on her comb, I can't feel anything raised. Is it pigmentation changes? I want to catch it early if it's pox. The other two pullets don't have combs yet. Of course, this is Goldie, the non producing production chicken. I suspect if this is pox, this will delay egg laying further? Also, she seems to be drinking a lot more water than is typical - otherwise acting as normal. I'll be conducting an overall health check tomorrow night. What are your thoughts? Thanks in advance.

 

[WingItRanch]

Guys, is this fowl pox? I've haven't had to deal with this thus far, so I'm not sure. I noticed it yesterday. There are no bumps or scabs, it actually is flat on her comb, I can't feel anything raised. Is it pigmentation changes? I want to catch it early if it's pox. The other two pullets don't have combs yet. Of course, this is Goldie, the non producing production chicken. I suspect if this is pox, this will delay egg laying further? Also, she seems to be drinking a lot more water than is typical - otherwise acting as normal. I'll be conducting an overall health check tomorrow night. What are your thoughts? Thanks in advance.

The pics are kind of blurry but that doesn't look like fowl pox to me. Usually it appears as little black scab-like growths. Are you sure it's not dirt from dust bathing?

If it is fowl pox, there's not much you can do. It will go away on its own. It's recommended you don't touch fowl pox scabs because it may cause spreading.

 

[Bawkbok]

I know, she moves so fast I can't seem to get a good one. I will get better pics when she is being held tomorrow night for her check. I tried to clean it off with Dawn detergent but no joy, which is why I thought pox. She has not been dust bathing - no loose sand, it's like concrete here it's been dry since hurricane Milton. We really need rain badly. Thanks for your reply that's good news.

 

[WingItRanch]

I know, she moves so fast I can't seem to get a good one. I will get better pics when she is being held tomorrow night for her check. I tried to clean it off with Dawn detergent but no joy, which is why I thought pox. She has not been dust bathing - no loose sand, it's like concrete here it's been dry since hurricane Milton. We really need rain badly. Thanks for your reply that's good news.

You could make a dust bath for them! That's what I did. Just large plastic bin full of soil and some wood ash. They go crazy for it and its really cute watching them bathe.

 

[Bawkbok]

Wood ash, really? So the ash from the open bon fires we've been having to burn up storm debris is ok for them to bathe in?