What to do with hens that aren't laying

[JacksFarmNGardn]

I bought 2 Silver Laced Wyandotte hens, last December. I was told they were laying, but the reason the person was downsizing, was that she was moving the following spring, and did not want to feed birds all winter. I believe in the end, she just didn't want to feed birds who weren't laying. She told me she got them from a local TSC and she got them in April. So 8m old.Next morning in the light, I found that their combs weren't as red, and that they were molting. No biggie. Well, it took til March, 3 months later before hey finally laid..and they were PULLET eggs!!! Itty bitty, little bloody pullet eggs!i also compared pics of their combs/wattles when i got them, to when they were laying,and you could see how much grew. The other started 10 days later. They were 11months though.

My friend bought 3 gold laced wyandottes, told the same thing, laying hens hatched in April, well she processed them because she didn't want to wait anymore than a month. 2 had dormant egg sacs, one showed signs if laying in about a month.

This time of year, because of decreased daylight,if they havent started, they WILL by spring. It's just a matter of how patient you are. I'm glad I kept them. They lay my biggest eggs now, and all spring I hatched out beautiful easter egger chicks from them.

 

[cmarlowdrive]

Yes, I will. Thank you for advice. However, babies (10 weeks) are helping themselves to oyster shell and their chick grit. I don't have the means to keep them separated. They love the layer mash, which is out of pen now.

 

[cmarlowdrive]

By the time spring rolls around everyone will be 16 weeks and older. I can do away with grower feed at that time and bring back the layer mash and extra calcium supplements. Until then I don't expect any eggs.

 

[junebuggena]

Yes, I will. Thank you for advice. However, babies (10 weeks) are helping themselves to oyster shell and their chick grit. I don't have the means to keep them separated. They love the layer mash, which is out of pen now.

Don't worry about the chicks eating the oyster shell. They won't take enough to do harm.

By the time spring rolls around everyone will be 16 weeks and older. I can do away with grower feed at that time and bring back the layer mash and extra calcium supplements. Until then I don't expect any eggs.

They will lay, when they are ready to. Layer feed and extra calcium actually does nothing to 'make' a hen lay. Your girls just need time.

 

[Little Fuzzy]

That comb will turn red when they get close to laying. Its like Rudolph's red nose! Very noticeable.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

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.

Dry runs are quite normal and a good sign!

Agreed, it has nothing to do with your feed.