when?

[Kane]

I have a very under weight chicken. She has a scissor beak. Some of my chickens just started laying at 5 1/2 months. When, if ever should I expect her to start laying?

 

[Bravo]

She may not have the nutrients to be able to lay if she is that thin.

Since she has cross-beak, make sure she has access to a deep feeder where she can scoop her food into her mouth. Also, use crumbles as opposed to pellets as this seems to work better.

I've had 2 birds with cross beak in my experience with chickens and both were fantastic eaters.

I'd start trying to bulk her up by doing a mixture of cottage cheese and high-protein laying crumbles mixed into a nice mash. Put it into a big dish and separate her. If she can eat, she will go to town.

If her cross-beak is so severe that she still cant eat, you might consider culling as this would be the most humane thing for her.