Why aren't my hens laying eggs?

[Alex208]

I don't think they sing that.

 

[MillersFarm]

They will once they're ready!

 

[SoCha]

Hello, to stop them from eating the eggs I would find something they dislike and cover the egg with it so that they will try the egg/shell and not like the taste they might not eat it again because the eggs taste "bad".

 

[dfalco]

My pullets were singing the song, but I wasn't getting eggs. They free range. So I shut them up in the pen for a couple days. All of them. Let me back up. I made up my mind they were, at least some of them, laying eggs. But I didn't have the eggs in the laying boxes. So one evening I asked them, if they laid an egg that day, to raise their wing. Well...none of them raised their wing. Thats when I knew I had 'em, because I did get my standard three eggs from my three hens. Just no pullet eggs. So when none of them raised their wing, I knew the hens were trying to cover up for the young'uns that had laid in the wrong place. I asked them again, to raise their wing and confess what had happened. Nothing. So I told Harry, their rooster, that it was his responsibility to see that the girls laid their eggs proper. And I told him there would be no going out until I had eggs in the boxes. Next morning I went out, fed them good, watered. And gave them the talk. Then, just to drive home the point, I let the ducks and the younger two pullets, who are too young to lay, out for a nice hunt and peck. All day those girls had to listen to ole Harry fuss at them to lay their eggs in the boxes. And they did. I got 7 total...had only been getting my standard 3. So I kept them in for another day. And again, they laid in the boxes. Third day, I let them out with a stern warning. And they have been diligently walking back down to the coop to lay in the boxes ever since. Sometimes you just have to set the ground rules. Could your hens be laying out somewhere...you know...if they free range?

 

[Alex208]

No they are locked in they have a coop.

 

[Alex208]

My pullets were singing the song, but I wasn't getting eggs. They free range. So I shut them up in the pen for a couple days. All of them. Let me back up. I made up my mind they were, at least some of them, laying eggs. But I didn't have the eggs in the laying boxes. So one evening I asked them, if they laid an egg that day, to raise their wing. Well...none of them raised their wing. Thats when I knew I had 'em, because I did get my standard three eggs from my three hens. Just no pullet eggs. So when none of them raised their wing, I knew the hens were trying to cover up for the young'uns that had laid in the wrong place. I asked them again, to raise their wing and confess what had happened. Nothing. So I told Harry, their rooster, that it was his responsibility to see that the girls laid their eggs proper. And I told him there would be no going out until I had eggs in the boxes. Next morning I went out, fed them good, watered. And gave them the talk. Then, just to drive home the point, I let the ducks and the younger two pullets, who are too young to lay, out for a nice hunt and peck. All day those girls had to listen to ole Harry fuss at them to lay their eggs in the boxes. And they did. I got 7 total...had only been getting my standard 3. So I kept them in for another day. And again, they laid in the boxes. Third day, I let them out with a stern warning. And they have been diligently walking back down to the coop to lay in the boxes ever since. Sometimes you just have to set the ground rules. Could your hens be laying out somewhere...you know...if they free range?

No they are in the coop always

 

[Alex208]

Do any of you guys have any sugestion on why my hens are not layingoing three eggs I only get one egg not three

 

[aart]

Are you positive of their age, did you raise them from chicks?
What is your climate and location?

Combs and Wattles:
Plump, shiny red - usually means laying.
Shriveled, dryish looking and pale - usually means not laying.
Tho I have found that the combs and wattles can look full and red one minute then pale back out the next due to exertion or excitement, can drive ya nuts when waiting for a pullet to lay!

Vent Appearance:
Dry, tight, and smaller - usually not laying.
Moist, wide, and larger - usually laying.

Pelvic Points, feel for the 2 bony points(pelvic bones F-F) on either side of vent:
Less than 2 fingertip widths apart usually means not laying.
More than 2 fingertip widths apart usually means laying.
(Spacing is relative with chickens size and humans finger size.)

 

[Alex208]

Are you positive of their age, did you raise them from chicks?
What is your climate and location?

Combs and Wattles:
Plump, shiny red - usually means laying.
Shriveled, dryish looking and pale - usually means not laying.
Tho I have found that the combs and wattles can look full and red one minute then pale back out the next due to exertion or excitement, can drive ya nuts when waiting for a pullet to lay!

Vent Appearance:
Dry, tight, and smaller - usually not laying.
Moist, wide, and larger - usually laying.

Pelvic Points, feel for the 2 bony points(pelvic bones F-F) on either side of vent:
Less than 2 fingertip widths apart usually means not laying.
More than 2 fingertip widths apart usually means laying.
(Spacing is relative with chickens size and humans finger size.)

It is hot 95-105

 

[aart]

Well, that's probably part of the problem....that is very hot...where do you live?
They use up what water they drink to cool their bodies, not make eggs.
Also, not all birds lay every day...so you may never see 3 eggs in one day.