[caerkev]

we bought our 4 girls mid june, 2 hybreds 1 black rock and 1 leghorn who had a huge red crest, a few weeks later 1 hybred grew her crest and began to lay soon to be followed by the black rock, but to date the other hybred and leghorn have still not layed, does this mean they may never start to lay, as there all pets this ain't a major thing but it would be nice to get something back for all the poo picking , feeding and cleaning i do for them

[joolie]

Hi,
I'm similar to you - i've got 5 hens which were bought at POL back in august.  Only 2 are laying and it was disappointing.  However I'm not in a rush with them cos they only have a limited egg laying life.  If they start late then they will lay longer at the other end.  Kids are getting frustrated and so are friends and family who were queing up to buy em.  Hang in there - Im trying to.

[Roughlee Handled]

To both joolie and caerkev

Firstly what are there ages in weeks?
Secondly what are you feeding them?

[Angus]

It is frustrating our hens were laying small eggs now they have stopped altogether.  The kids are going mad as it is the highlight of their day.  Also we have a hen who will 80% chance lay a blue egg she has not done anything yet she has a very large bright red comb she walks around singing away just like the layer but nothing yet.  The same story applies to our leghorn who will lay a white egg too.  Roll on the spring when our egg factory we hope will pick up, we were also told that hybrids lay thoughout the winter.  This hen business is a roller coaster ride for sure.

[caerkev]

To both joolie and caerkev

Firstly what are there ages in weeks?
Secondly what are you feeding them?

we are taking a rough guess here that they were about 16 weeks when we bought them and we have had them for another 16 weeks, so at a guess 32 weeks old.
they are fed layers pellets with oyster shell added, scraps and peelings boiled and mashed and allowed a few hours out of there 10ft x 12ft run in the evening to forrage around the garden for whatever they can find.

[Stablechooks]

We are in same boat  - our 4 girls and boy have had 2 weeks in their new abode and still no Eggs  . Am wondering
a) Still too early and haven't settled in
b) Wrong time of year - annual Moult or reducing daylight = gone off boil
c) Knackered old breeding stock and will never lay = sold a pup!

Of the four girls we have a Wyandotte, Buff Sussex and Arancana. Fed on Laying pellets the were supplied with and 8 hour foraging in woods each day.

Any other clues to look for?  Can cope with the temporary delay in home grown eggs and now more concerned with any of them being egg-bound etc. All are perky enough and the all run to the kids for hand feeding etc.

[Roughlee Handled]

Photos of there combs would help.

How often are you feeding them and how much? 

Chickens are not like dogs or cats they are like horses and cattle they have to have feed layer pellets all the time to grase at.

[joolie]

My girls were sold as POL and we were told 3 - 4 weeks till they lay.  I feed them layers pellets and in the afternoons from about 1530 they graze in the garden and have everyother day a jumble of boiled peelings and stuff.  They love corn on the cobs that i dangle from the washing line!
I know they will lay when they are ready but worry incase it is something i'm doing.