Why No Eggs!?

[Padfoot417]

Hey all

Okay so I have 5 hens who are about 6 months old, and not one has started laying!

I feed them layer pellets, they always have fresh water, they're healthy...
My roosters don't harass them either, so it's not like they're stressed.
I have one other silkie hen, Rosey, who hasn't laid but she just molted and still has her chick with her.
So I'm confused! I have no idea why none of them are laying.
They get ample time outside too, probably 7+ hours a day.
Also, we've searched all over and they haven't laid any in the woods or otherwise.
We provide them with nesting boxes and this morning I'm pretty sure one of my Orps was attempting to lay.
The egg had no shell, but by the time I got ahold of her to try and help it was like she sucked it back in or something...

It wasn't like she laid it anywhere else, I'd been following her and keeping close watch.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!
Thank you!!

 

[chicmom]

Hi! If you let them free range most of the day, it's quite possible that they have a secret nesting spot, even though you haven't found it yet.

OR, some breeds do take longer to lay. The average age is 20 weeks, but some breeds, like Orpingtons, take a month or so longer. I would think, at six months, they should be laying.

Here's a question for you: Are they squatting when you reach out to touch them? If they are, that's a sign of maturity and they should either start soon or are already laying eggs.

I personally, keep my flock locked in the coop/run until around 2pm, so that they get into the habit of laying their eggs inside the coop, in the nesting boxes. You sort of have to help them establish good laying habits. My gals are usually done laying by then, and they get to free range until it starts getting dark. Then I give them their treat in the run, and they all come a'running, and I lock them up for the night. (They will go inside on their own, but I like to give them a little bit of cracked corn in the evenings.)

Also, chickens need about 14 hours of daylight (or artificial light) to get on a good laying cycle, so you might need to put a light in your coop, if it's starting to get darker earlier there, like it is here in Ohio. I turn the light on before I leave for work in the morning, and then I turn it off around 8:30pm.

Take care! I think you're taking wonderful care of your chickens. Keep us posted on when you finally get those eggs,
Sharon

 

[Padfoot417]

Alright,thank you so much!
I'm gonna keep keep a closer eye on them!
Thank you so much!!