What should I do if my 6 month old chickens won’t lay eggs?

[Celeste Cannon]

I have2 hens, a Cochin and a silkie, and they are 6 months old and they still aren’t laying eggs. I know it can take up to 8 months for them to start laying, but I’m getting really impatient!!! I am feeding them grower feed and some scratch during the day. They each have their own nesting box and yesterday I put a fake egg in each box so they get the idea. Is there something I should do? I am starting to think they are laying somewhere secret in their run...

 

[featheredplanets]

Definitely check for secret nests, but both of those breeds may take another couple of months to come into lay. I’d stop with the scratch and provide free choice oyster shell

 

[ChickenCanoe]

They could be hiding eggs.
However, those are two of the poorest breeds in productiveness.
Yeah, I'd stop with the scratch for a while too.
The fake eggs are good to show them where to lay but the only thing that produces eggs is good nutrition in healthy pullets with increasing day length. Now is the time of year they should be reaching sexual maturity.
Do they have outdoor access all day?
Pick up the birds and check the distance between the pointy pelvic bones. If it is less than 2 finger width distance, they aren't ready. If it is more than 2 fingers, they are already laying or it is imminent. The vent will also be moist when they come into lay.

 

[Celeste Cannon]

Thank you so much for this! I will check them now. Yes they always have access to their outdoor run, except for nighttime of course. Their run is huge so it might take a while for me to find hidden eggs (if there are any).

 

[RWise]

Many of my girls will start at 4 months, others will wait until 8 months old, and another may wait until 12 months old.
When the comb gets good and red, they are close.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I would like to point the OP to the @aart
article on checking skeletal signs that laying is imminent.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/who-is-laying-and-who-is-not-butt-check.73309/

 

[aart]

"What should I do if my 6 month old chickens won’t lay eggs?"
Short answer is....Wait.