Young SLW hen, about 10 months old, moulting already? Not laying? Advice anyone?

[marktoo]

Don't think the expert was saying that molting early caused them to be poor layers, he was saying poor layers often molt early in common with each other. From there he kinda went into the attributes of good layer; flat head & back, deep & wide body but you would have to be familiar with the breed to make those comparisons. There is also a way to tell who's probably laying if you had a large flock, layers have a moist vent & there's some measurements on the pelvic bones I forget, I'm sure you could research it.

Hey! We done raised em up from chicks, not about to give up on em with spring right around the corner. Just gotta wait & see. Take note of the outcome.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Quote:
Yes, I've had several molt at 9-10 months and they resume laying just fine. It has a lot to do with how early I hatch. If I hatch in Jan/Feb, those pullets will molt their first year. But if I hatch late March/April, then they typically lay through their first year. I'm learning that poor layers have a lot to do with body width. I've been told to look for wide spacing between the legs in my breeder birds.

 

[Mon27]

Yes, I've had several molt at 9-10 months and they resume laying just fine. It has a lot to do with how early I hatch. If I hatch in Jan/Feb, those pullets will molt their first year. But if I hatch late March/April, then they typically lay through their first year. I'm learning that poor layers have a lot to do with body width. I've been told to look for wide spacing between the legs in my breeder birds.

Thank you so much for sharing that experience. That is interesting about the body width. She does seem quite petite. I was expecting a larger bird as she is my first and only slw. I raised some red broilers from Ideal and spared three hens. One, because she grew the fastest and largest with great color, two, because it really protested to being caught, and the third, because she just struck me that she might be a good layer. She is more compact from front to back, but very wide in stance. I just had a good feeling about her and sure enough, two days ago, she layed a pretty darn big pullet egg. She was my first to lay out of leghorns, barred rocks and Australorps all her age. I am glad I kept her.

 

[Mon27]

Update. She continued to look poor. Her feathers never looked full, she didnt seem to be laying, lethargic etc. I realized that she had never been a very productive hen and just needed to go. It was a tough choice but I am glad. I have too many chickens now to worry with ones who dont contribute. Thank you all for the advice and help.