1st year hens not laying

[4chicksmom]

I have a 10 month old Black Marans and a 10 month old EE that are not laying. I also have an 11 month old Sex Link that is laying during the winter.
The Marans is squatting for me but also mounted the sex link. We don't have a rooster and it's just the 3 ladies that are left. We lost one on Christmas eve to a predator.
The Marans and EE haven't laid in over a month. I thought they were going through a mini molt, because Marans lost her neck feathers but they grew back in, and EE lost all of her tail feathers that are mostly back to normal. Marans has a red comb and wattles but no eggs. Help. We need eggs.
I should add, the weather is not that cold, it almost never gets below 30F and daytime is in the 50's.

 

[nuthatched]

It's normal winter break, they should start soon with increasing daylight hours.

 

[FrostRanger]

They'll start again in spring, not a lot you can do about it unfortunately. It's not the weather that made them stop but rather the number of daylight hours they're getting. Days are shorter in winter hence most birds don't lay very much if at all. As hard as it may be, just be patient

 

[4chicksmom]

I assumed that since it was their first winter, they'd be laying through the winter. Ha, I was wrong. And I just checked the coop and it looks like the EE isn't done molting, although i don't see any bare spots on her.

 

[FrostRanger]

I assumed that since it was their first winter, they'd be laying through the winter. Ha, I was wrong. And I just checked the coop and it looks like the EE isn't done molting, although i don't see any bare spots on her.

Most of mine didn't either, they also went through a molt which also didn't help things. I don't mind 'cause i'd rather they take more breaks but lay longer overall than lay as much as possible and be at a higher risk of reproductive issues

 

[Mrs. K]

This year I have two pullets laying through the winter. FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER. These two birds were hatched in August of the year before, did not start to lay until February.

Last summer, I stored eggs in glass jars. I use those for baking, or scrambled. Then the two or so I get a day, we eat for breakfast basted.

Mrs K

 

[wrathsfarm]

Over the last couple years most of my pullets layed thru their first winter. This year I've had quite a few not start until a couple weeks after I finally got a timer and fired lights up in the AM at the beginning of January.
I've had quite a few hatches tho, that put them around 20 wks right at winter solstice.

This girl is 32 wks (June hatch) and I'm still waiting.
It's always the one you want most....

 

[BDutch]

I assumed that since it was their first winter, they'd be laying through the winter. Ha, I was wrong. And I just checked the coop and it looks like the EE isn't done molting, although i don't see any bare spots on her.

Young pullets don’t moult.
Are you sure she is 10 months old?

Many chickens wait for late winter/early spring to lay their first egg.
Depends on the age/ breed/ individual.

I have 2 pullets from June. Two bantam rock sisters. Both started to lay at the start of December. One stopped again at the end of December. The other continued to lay.

 

[4chicksmom]

Young pullets don’t moult.
Are you sure she is 10 months old?

Many chickens wait for late winter/early spring to lay their first egg.
Depends on the age/ breed/ individual.

I have 2 pullets from June. Two bantam rock sisters. Both started to lay at the start of December. One stopped again at the end of December. The other continued to lay.

Yes, I bought them all as chicks, so absolutely positive on their age. They started laying in July and August. The marans started laying at 18 or 19 weeks, which i thought was early and she's bigger than the rest, but I got her and my EE at the same time as day old chicks.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Young pullets don’t moult.
Are you sure she is 10 months old?

Many chickens wait for late winter/early spring to lay their first egg.
Depends on the age/ breed/ individual.

Pullets can molt. Mine certainly didn't get the memo to lay through winter. 3 of 4 have blown out a good number of feathers and currently none are laying, not even the one that still has all her feathers and a bright red comb.