when will my chickens start laying?

[ChickenCanoe]

Chickens, like all other earthbound forms need a dark period. Artificial light or lengthening days in spring definitely stimulate laying. That's how commercial egg farms get all the pullets to start laying within a week or so of each other.

 

[Kelsie2290]

X2, you really want to give your hens a dark period, hens only need about 14 hours of light to continue laying which is usually not a problem in the summer, winter is when most people add light (though many pullets will lay without supplemental lighting their first winter) Nice article on lighting for BYCs http://www.hort.purdue.edu/tristate_organic/poultry_2007/Light Management.pdf

 

[drumstick diva]

Roaming dogs are one of the most frequent chicken assassins second only to raccoons.

So if you free range you are taking a big chance with them. Also dogs can easily get through chicken wire, as can most predators.. Your birds will be much safer in the run if you use 1/2" hardware cloth instead.

Hope they start laying for you soon.