Why have my 7 month old hens not began to lay?

[imnukensc]

Actually, young birds are more likely to lay thru their first winter.

My 3 Barred Rock pullets born the first of June started laying around Thanksgiving. I've consistently gotten a dozen eggs every 5 days since then.

I'll disagree about placing fake eggs/golf balls in the nest box "increasing their desire to lay." It doesn't. It merely shows them where to lay.

 

[aart]

Where are you from? I've never heard that last part.

My location is under my avatar...might have to turn your phone to landscape mode to see it.

This last part?

Actually, young birds are more likely to lay thru their first winter.

I'll rephrase. Pullets(young birds) often lay thru first winter...it was in response to this post:

Chickens do not lat nearly as much in winter, especially young ones

This post implies that older birds are more likely to lay in winter....or maybe I misunderstood.

 

[bluebird]

My location is under my avatar...might have to turn your phone to landscape mode to see it.

This last part?
I'll rephrase. Pullets(young birds) often lay thru first winter...it was in response to this post:
This post implies that older birds are more likely to lay in winter....or maybe I misunderstood.

My chicks did not lay at all in Winter, but it may just be a random experience

 

[Welshies]

Personally I would say if you want spring layers, hatch your chicks in late August. If you want winter layers hatch out in June or July.

 

[PirateGirl]

Hi and welcome! It sounds like you have gotten some good advice. I want to tell you that you are not alone and there are many others who had chicks hatch last spring that still do not have eggs. Every chicken is different and every environment is different, and sometimes the chickens will not lay until the days start getting longer. You are welcome to join our group here

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-contest-for-the-duds.1206150/

with others impatiently waiting and publicly shaming our freeloading dud chickens. While we wait it out, make sure your girls have access to good quality chicken feed 16% or higher percentage of protein. As others have said, layer feed is not needed yet since they are not laying. Sometimes you can find "grower" feed and it will have a higher protein content. If your chickens are free ranging hopefully they can catch their fair share of bugs too. In the northern hemisphere we are now past the shortest day of the year. One my chickens just laid her first egg exactly one week after the solstice, so their bodies recognize that spring is around the corner and it's time to start laying again. I have other chickens that have not laid an egg yet. The best we can do for them is give them a good safe spot to lay, give them good food and water, and wait for their hormones to kick in. In our dud group I think we've had 4 girls lay their first egg in the last week, so I'm sure yours is coming soon too!

 

[aart]

My chicks did not lay at all in Winter, but it may just be a random experience

Pullets laying thru winter is pretty common...from my own experience as well as a plethora of others here.
'Older' birds, in their second fall/winter(~18mo +/- a couple months) will most likely be molting/recovering and thus not laying in winter.
Of course there's always exceptions.

 

[bluebird]

Pullets laying thru winter is pretty common...from my own experience as well as a plethora of others here.
'Older' birds, in their second fall/winter(~18mo +/- a couple months) will most likely be molting/recovering and thus not laying in winter.
Of course there's always exceptions.

Thanks for telling me!

 

[Welshies]

Pullets laying thru winter is pretty common...from my own experience as well as a plethora of others here.
'Older' birds, in their second fall/winter(~18mo +/- a couple months) will most likely be molting/recovering and thus not laying in winter.
Of course there's always exceptions.

Hmm. Up here I've always found ALL my birds don't lay. We only get 7 hours of daylight in winter. Maybe that's why.

 

[sbhkma]

Several things going on here.
First is they are EEs, which are known to require high protein. But instead, you're feeding them layer, sometimes dog food and sometimes you don't feed them at all that day. I am not surprised they're not laying. As @aart said, they need quality food available ALL the time. It's been recommended to feed an all flock, which is typically 20% protein. I would agree and that's what I do. I have a bowl of oyster shell available for my birds. They tend to know when they need it and won't touch it until they're getting close to POL.

Second is that it's winter and short daylight hours. I have some 10 month old Welsummers that have not laid yet, but I see them starting to check out the nest boxes and eating a bit of oyster shell, so it should be fairly soon (yay!).

If you start feeding your birds more consistently. If you're running low of feed, go get more so you're not making them skip a meal - do YOU skip a meal because you didn't get groceries? I would think that improving their diet and longer daylight hours will get them laying in a month or two. Good luck with them.

 

[Welshies]

Several things going on here.
First is they are EEs, which are known to require high protein. But instead, you're feeding them layer, sometimes dog food and sometimes you don't feed them at all that day. I am not surprised they're not laying. As @aart said, they need quality food available ALL the time. It's been recommended to feed an all flock, which is typically 20% protein. I would agree and that's what I do. I have a bowl of oyster shell available for my birds. They tend to know when they need it and won't touch it until they're getting close to POL.

Second is that it's winter and short daylight hours. I have some 10 month old Welsummers that have not laid yet, but I see them starting to check out the nest boxes and eating a bit of oyster shell, so it should be fairly soon (yay!).

If you start feeding your birds more consistently. If you're running low of feed, go get more so you're not making them skip a meal - do YOU skip a meal because you didn't get groceries? I would think that improving their diet and longer daylight hours will get them laying in a month or two. Good luck with them.

x2. No offense to the OP, but anyone who lets their animals go a day without feed because they didn't pick up more when they needed to... shouldn't have them.