What to do with hens that aren't laying

[jaybud]

U might wanna try purina flock grower raiser and a separate bowl with oyster shells. That's how I feed my birds and the ones that do lay love the oyster shells and everyone gobbles up the feed crumbles.

 

[jaybud]

After looking at them closely today, I think the notion of not being mature is spot on. Noticed that there combs are barely grown in and just have a faint color of pink on them.

 

[junebuggena]

It's been my experience that Easter Eggers need a bit more protein than some other breeds if you want them to lay consistently. And while those that mature in the spring and summer usually start laying between 5 and 6 months of age, the pullets that mature in the fall take much longer to start laying.

 

[jaybud]

...

It's been my experience that Easter Eggers need a bit more protein than some other breeds if you want them to lay consistently. And while those that mature in the spring and summer usually start laying between 5 and 6 months of age, the pullets that mature in the fall take

It's been my experience that Easter Eggers need a bit more protein than some other breeds if you want them to lay consistently. And while those that mature in the spring and summer usually start laying between 5 and 6 months of age, the pullets that mature in the fall take much longer to start laying. 

. Thinking that might be my scenario since its fall and they r pullets

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I have a similar issue with 10 mature laying hens (32 week) not laying. I have found soft eggs, a broken pelvis and only 1 egg every other day. Vet said I need to add calcium to diet. I just think they are not ready to lay and I am going to have to wait.
Now we are into cold weather, we are under construction adding more room to coop, we have introduced 6 week olds to flock and I understand all these situations are reasons for hens to stop laying.
I may not see anything until Spring 2017, but, that is ok. I don't mind waiting as long as they are all healthy.
I have been offering layer feed and grower feed to both age groups, but, babies prefer layer feed. Will change and only offer grower feed and oyster shell for next 6 weeks at least.

I hate to disagree with your vet....

But soft shelled eggs can also be a sign of the reproductive system getting started or shutting down and often has less to do with more calcium. I got softees here and there as my pullets were coming into lay, even though I saw them consuming oyster shell.

With all those changes, I think you are right to not mind waiting.

Layer is bad for chicks, it's low in protein and high in calcium. Is that why you are changing it? I would offer grower or all flock/flock raiser until I saw an egg from the very last pullet before switching to layer. To much calcium can stunt growth and cause kidney issues if fed long term to non layers, including molting hens if they are intended to retire old

 

[jaybud]

I hate to disagree with your vet.... :/
From what I have researched later feed is also not good for your roosters, extra calcium in layer
But soft shelled eggs can also be a sign of the reproductive system getting started or shutting down and often has less to do with more calcium. I got softees here and there as my pullets were coming into lay, even though I saw them consuming oyster shell. 

With all those changes, I think you are right to not mind waiting. 

Layer is bad for chicks, it's low in protein and high in calcium. Is that why you are changing it? I would offer grower or all flock/flock raiser until I saw an egg from the very last pullet before switching to layer. To much calcium can stunt growth and cause kidney issues if fed long term to non layers, including molting hens if they are intended to retire old

. From what I have also researched layer feed is also not good for your roosters. The extra calcium is hard on there bodies to filter thru.

 

[aart]

I have a similar issue with 10 mature laying hens (32 week) not laying. I have found soft eggs, a broken pelvis and only 1 egg every other day. Vet said I need to add calcium to diet. I just think they are not ready to lay and I am going to have to wait.
Now we are into cold weather, we are under construction adding more room to coop, we have introduced 6 week olds to flock and I understand all these situations are reasons for hens to stop laying.
I may not see anything until Spring 2017, but, that is ok. I don't mind waiting as long as they are all healthy.
I have been offering layer feed and grower feed to both age groups, but, babies prefer layer feed. Will change and only offer grower feed and oyster shell for next 6 weeks at least.

Broken pelvis?!?

 

[jaybud]

Jaybud, one thing I can tell you after nearly four years with hens of varying breeds is that the Easter Eggers are slow to mature and begin laying.  When they do, they tend to lay in various places until they learn to lay with the other hens that are older.  Younger hens are lower on the pecking order, so if the nesting boxes are occupied with other birds, the EE will lay elsewhere, and may even do so with an empty box available because they are leary of the older hens that may be using them.  The sex links you mentioned can and often do begin laying at around 16-18 weeks, so they aren't a good comparison.

I have three EE hens that are 28 weeks old now and have been laying since late September.  Two of them lay pinkish brown eggs and one lays a beautiful blue egg.  I find blue eggs in the nesting boxes most times, but the other two lay in the front yard under the azaleas.  I have one egg marked with an x so I know which one to leave behind as a decoy.  As long as I can find the eggs, I don't want to lock them up.  When I can't find them, I'll lock them up for a few weeks to retrain them.

I would BET that your birds are either laying or close to it and they have a secret nest somewhere.  Lock them up for a week or so.  If you get eggs from them, you have your answer.  If not, then give them a few more weeks and see what happens.  It may also be feed issues, etc. but I think the simple answer is that the are laying somewhere else.

I can't speak to the Sebright as I've never had one of those.

I can't imagine it being the feed, I give them purina flock grower raiser and lay out oyster shells seperatly. They are a bit spazish around others expect there trio, my game fowl rooster doesn't like them either. But thinking that's because my main flock hasn't accepted them. If at anytime the sebrite hen is separated from them she calls out loudly for them. I have caught the sebrite hen going in the coop laying in nest and squeaking but it's almost like she's doing a dry run. The Americans though just continue grazing and free ranging.

 

[cmarlowdrive]

My girls are not the production hens. I feel like if I get anything I am lucky, but, I thought I would get one or two a day, at least. I know there are a lot of things going on in and around the pen that keeps them from concentrating on laying eggs. The thing that bothers me is that I was getting an egg every other day from Wynonna (Wyandotte) and she has stopped laying completely. No eggs from anyone else yet. All my girls have been ready to lay since week 18 according to the signs. They have been showing interest in the laying basket since they were 18 weeks, but, nothing. I know they are not hiding the eggs. I am going to take the layer pellets out and replace with grower feed for the next 6 weeks since they are laying anyway. I am not expecting eggs from my girls since they are 33 weeks now and nothing.

 

[jaybud]

My girls are not the production hens.  I feel like if I get anything I am lucky, but, I thought I would get one or two a day, at least.   I know there are a lot of things going on in and around the pen that keeps them from concentrating on laying eggs.  The thing that bothers me is that I was getting an egg every other day from Wynonna (Wyandotte) and she has stopped laying completely.    No eggs from anyone else yet.     All my girls have been ready to lay since week 18 according to the signs.    They have been showing interest in the laying basket since they were 18 weeks, but, nothing.  I know they are not hiding the eggs.  I am going to take the layer pellets out and replace with grower feed for the next 6 weeks since they are laying anyway.  I am not expecting eggs from my girls since they are 33 weeks now and nothing.

Just make sure u lay out some oyster shells separately for them in a little bowl.