Why won't my hens lay?!?

[balingmomma88]

I have five hens

1 white leghorn - 25 weeks old
1 red sex link - 25 weeks old
1 Easter egged - 23 weeks old
2 buff orbingtons - 22 weeks

I have yet to get a single egg from anybody. The girls get fresh food and water daily. And they free range at least 5-6 hours a day except on the weekends. My two oldest girls came from a local farm and the other three came from a hatchery. Am I doing something wrong? The roosting bars are right next to the nesting boxes ... Is that bad? Or should I put a few fake eggs in the nesting boxes? This is my first time and I'm getting really discouraged!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

They won't lay because they're from 22-25 weeks in October when day length is getting shorter. The length of daylight getting to the pineal gland, when decreasing, tells them it's not time to lay. Lengthening days means to lay. Acturllay more accurately, lengthening days stimulates hormones to promote sexual maturity.

Have your seen a change in their combs? Darker, larger?
Pick the pullets up and check the space between the pelvic bones. When the space widens, they're at point of lay (POL).

 

[Pyxis]

It could be that they just aren't ready yet - have you noticed their combs growing a bit and turning red? That is an early sign that they are getting ready to lay.

It could also be that they might not start until spring, since the days are waning now and chickens need about 12 to 14 hours of daylight a day to stimulate them to lay eggs. A lot of chickens stop laying in the fall and winter, and if they are just reaching laying age at that time, they might not lay until the next spring unless supplemental lighting is provided.

A third option is that they are laying while they are out free ranging and have a hidden nest somewhere.

 

[balingmomma88]

The two that are 25 weeks have large red combs. The other three don't. And the two older ones squat when I pet them. I look around the yard after I put them to bed and don't see any eggs anywhere. I might try to put a light up in the coop tonight.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

A couple hours of added light will likely do the trick with those birds.

 

[balingmomma88]

Okay thank you! How long will it take for them to start producing once I add extra light?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

A week or so.

 

[balingmomma88]

Sorry I have one more question. Here is what my coop and run looks like. I put a light up at the very far right to light the whole run and coop. Or should I just light up the coop only?

 

[Pyxis]

Sorry I have one more question. Here is what my coop and run looks like. I put a light up at the very far right to light the whole run and coop. Or should I just light up the coop only?

I just do mine in the coop. Make sure it's on a timer, you don't want it on all night or it will affect their sleep. Set it so that they are getting 12-14 hours of light a day. Most people will recommend to have it come on and add the hours in the morning, not at night so it doesn't suddenly shut off on them at night and plunge them into darkness. I split the difference - mine all get up on the roost before the light goes off anyway.

 

[balingmomma88]

Man I bought a timer that turns on at dusk

Well I'll see how they do for a few days and if it's not good I'll buy a new one. Thanks for all your help everyone! Hopefully I'll see eggs soon. My whole family thinks I'm insane.