Why Aren't My Chickens Laying? Here Are Your Answers!

[sunkistfarm]

The younger ones are @ 4 months old. I think my older ones didn't start laying until @ 6 months ...maybe a bit longer.
They all share food etc. but I notice the older ones will not let the younger ones perch at night. The older ones perch and the
younger ones huddle on the floor of the coop. Thinking of maybe building another perch. Wonder if that will help?

 

[sunkistfarm]

As for the feathers...I think they had bare spots because the rooster was a little rough. Looks like he is
leaving them alone now and that is why they are growing in? Are the young chickens intimidating him?
But the hens would normally lay with or without him right?

 

[Cass]

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Yes, the hens will lay without a roo present. In "production farms" there isn't a roo for miles and they lay every day. (Of course they go to the Soup plant when they stop laying daily, so there is a HUGE incentive to keep production up)

Feather loss could be due to overbreeding or molting. It is hard to tell sometimes what is causing the feathers in the coop. Do you have a place you can segragate the roo from the hens for a couple of weeks? It will knock him down on the pecking order so he stops overbreeding your hens and will give them time to grow feathers before winter cold.

 

[dcalm425]

I have 2 buff orpington hens (laying regularly) and 2 white orpington (supposedly) hens (not laying). The 2 whites do not crow, but each day they look more and more like roosters. They cackle but do not crow. Anyone know how old white orpington roosters begin to crow? That will be the only way that I know whether I have roosters or hens in my white orpingtons, unless they begin to lay eggs.
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[speckledhen]

Post pics of the ones in question in What Breed or Gender. Egglaying or crowing isn't the only way to know if you have male or female. Males have stringy, shiny, skinny saddle feathers that hang off the back near the tail and the females do not.

Crowing is not dependent on breed. I've had chicks crow as young as 4 DAYS old or youngsters as late as about 24 weeks old.

 

[flocksalot]

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Is your rooster hiding from the younger ones? My roos are always head over heels for the new girls running around trying to find them things to eat and sticking close to them. They are like old men gawking at young girls. So if your roo has been leaving the older hens alone it might be because he's salivating over the new female friends you have given him. Are the younger girls sleeping in the nest boxes? When I have that problem the girls will find another place to lay. Usually in some hiden corner or under the brush.

 

[sunkistfarm]

You know, he is not hiding from the girls but he doesn't appear to care about any of them. He calls them when he finds food but the older hens won't let the younger ones near.
Also the older hens won't let the younger ones roost so they are sleeping on the nesting boxes. Maybe I will check their yard for eggs...that is a great idea. Thanks!

 

[onwingsofdragons]

I still haven't gotten a single egg from anyone since May. Everyone was laying until then. Diet has been the same layer pellets and fresh veg (occasionally chase the dog away for dog food...) , they act wonderful... just no eggies.

 

[speckledhen]

How many do you have? What breeds? How old are they? So many factors contribute to that, but almost 6 months is a long time to be without eggs. I do have a couple of hens who haven't laid an egg in longer than that, but they are 4-6 years old.

 

[blueheaven]

best quote: hens are not vending machines. i had a chuckle!!!

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