Why aren't my hens laying eggs???

[kimberdougl5]

I have 5 hens (1 Sapphire Gem, 1 Austrolorp, 1 Red Sex Link, and 2 RI Reds) and 1 Sapphire Gem Cockerel. All are the same age-23 weeks. None have laid the first egg. They've been on layer feed for 5 weeks. I keep them cooped all day until early evening, then let them out until dark. They coop themselves up at dark and I lock them up for the night. The coop has 3 nesting boxes, one of which the rooster sleeps in. The coop is 4x12, as we "planned" on only having 3-4 chickens, but ended up with 6.
Could coop overcrowding be causing my hens not to lay? My rooster has been caught a couple of times bullying the Reds.
I really thought by now I'd be getting some eggs. All seem really big and healthy, so.... I just don't know. Maybe this is a case of "a watched pot never boils"...

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

You shouldn't put pullets on a lower protein layer at least until all are laying. Making that switch too early will delay maturity because of the decrease in protein. Non laying birds shouldn't be eating a layer as that extra calcium can cause problems. Put your birds back on a non medicated starter grower and add a separate bowl of oyster shells for the calcium needs.

Most heritage breeds start to lay between 5-6 months of age. As your pullets mature any crowding will encourage aggressive behaviors. With maturity comes an increase need for resources and space. So if your birds are crowded now you may want to address the problem before you have bloody birds.

If your rooster sleeps in the nestboxes than you may not have enough roosts. You should discourage him from sleeping there as chickens poop a lot at night and will soil the boxes.

 

[ChickNanny13]

Agree with oldhenlikesdogs, forget the layer feed, put them on higher protein feed, add the separate dish of Oyster Shells once they start laying, separate dish of grit would help since they spend most of their day in the coop. Do you have enough ventilation, windows for sunlight in the coop?

Yea, Mr Roo needs to not sleep in a nest box. Where are your roosts vs the nest boxes? They like the highest there is to sleep on. You can also block the nest box at nights, opening in the mornings.

 

[aart]

The early start of layer feed may have slowed down their growth/maturity.
Especially if you feed other foods/treats.
I also use a 20% all flock feed, with OS on the side, to accommodate the multi age and gender flock I keep.
But it's not the end of the world....you'll just have to be patient.

Here's some tips to tell....
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/who-is-laying-and-who-is-not-butt-check.73309/

 

[DellaMyDarling]

If the birds are cooped all day, they may not be experiencing enough sunlight to trigger laying production.

Tell us more about your coop.

 

[clembone]

Relax. All will be well. The later your birds start to lay, the less stress they will have from passing eggs too early. They will lay longer and stay healthier longer. Slower growing is best for the small back yard flock where the chickens can range for some of their food. No worries. Those hens are going to lay eggs. They have to. You are doing good. You might extend the evening range a touch, or add a small run to help, if those are possible moves.

 

[Birdsong 82]

They will lay. I’ve had some of mine take longer than that. Had an EE that took 9 months! That was unusual though
They start of layer feed to early can put a delay on laying (I found out the hard way years ago too). But they did lay and are happy productive birds still (even at age 5) But I would deter the rooster from sleeping in the nest boxes. Maybe block them before roosting time and open in the morning. Everyone brought up good points on why the delay could be. Is the coop 4x12 include the boxes? Does the coop have a run?

 

[sourland]

"Patience Grasshopper". Your girls are young and maturation may have been slowed by early feed change.

 

[kimberdougl5]

THANK YOU ALL for responding! Your points gave me a lot to look at.
My coop (with roost and nesting boxes) is 4x5, 2-story, and open to the run area, which is 4x8. It's small for 6 chickens because we made it for 3 chickens...but, I came home with 6, thinking they were just a day old and this was my first try at raising chickens (improving my odds that I'd still end up with 3). All of the chickens are big, healthy, beautiful birds, really friendly and eat treats out of my hand. I really think my rooster is just "being a rooster" and trying to show his girls some love I started cooping up for longer hours because I don't want to hunt eggs all over the yard, my flower beds are getting pretty shredded, and I wanted to be sure my chickens were eating enough pellets, as my chickens LOVE to forage.
I'm going to look at adding a second roost and extending the coop walls forward a tad. My rooster is doing a fantastic job of protecting his girls, but I'm thinking I don't have enough roost area for all 6.
I'll also add some higher protein food back into their diet. Our soil is sand, but I've still been giving oyster shells, and I cut back on their treats a few weeks ago to make sure they were getting enough "real chicken food".
Again, THANK YOU ALL for the suggestions and pointers!!!

 

[aart]

Our soil is sand, but I've still been giving oyster shells,

Sand has nothing to do with the calcium of oyster shells....
...and they also should have access to granite digestive grit.

http://www.jupefeeds-sa.com/documents/GraniteGrit.pdf.

I bought about a 2 gallon bag of granite grit from the local mill, they put it in their chicken scratch. Ran it thru a colander with 1/16" holes. Bagged the smaller stuff for the chicks and sprinkle some over a chunk of sod in the brooder during the second week.