Chickens won’t lay.

[Jl neighborhood flock]

Hello! If you have read my other threads, you will know that I currently have to chickens, a cross breed of a Rhode Island Red, and a Blue silkie. As my chickens have been getting older and close to laying age, I have noticed that they still haven’t a layed an egg yet. I know that they aren’t sick or egg bound, and they have been on layer feed for a long time now. They are about 6 months old, born march 18, 2024. I will provide pictures below.
Thank you for helping me out!

 

[Squawkers]

I think silkies take longer to lay. I think just be patient! It will happen. They usually start laying very soon after their face reddens and they start squatting.

 

[Jener8or]

I am sure they are both just taking their sweet time and there is nothing to worry about them healthwise. I am not good at sexing silkies, but is the blue silkie a pullet?

If you are in the northern hemisphere, the days are getting shorter, so they may not even lay until next Spring. Pullets will sometimes lay out-of season, though, so hopefully your girls will. It can be tough waiting for them to lay!

I like the RIR with a crest. She is cute.

 

[Jl neighborhood flock]

I am sure they are both just taking their sweet time and there is nothing to worry about them healthwise. I am not good at sexing silkies, but is the blue silkie a pullet?

If you are in the northern hemisphere, the days are getting shorter, so they may not even lay until next Spring. Pullets will sometimes lay out-of season, though, so hopefully your girls will. It can be tough waiting for them to lay!

I like the RIR with a crest. She is cute.

Hello! Thank you for your responses! To answer, these guys are either the same age(born on the same day) or about a day about. Thank you for your compliment… but when I took that picture of my Orpington, that was the wind that made her look like she has a crest like that- lol. I will be back with updates!

 

[Jl neighborhood flock]

I think silkies take longer to lay. I think just be patient! It will happen. They usually start laying very soon after their face reddens and they start squatting.

Noted… thank you!

 

[Squawkers]

Noted… thank you!

Ohhhh… it’s a silkie she’ll start laying soon after she starts squatting but her face won’t redden

 

[FrostRanger]

I would take take them off layer and put them on either back on chick starter or an all flock feed and have oyster shell on the side for anyone laying. The extra calcium in layer feed is bad for nonlaying birds (not to mention the higher protein in chick starter or all flock is better for your birds in general) .

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Agree. They don't need to be on layer feed until they start laying. Layer feed won't encourage laying, it just contains extra calcium which they need for making eggshells. However, having said that, most layer feed only contains about 16% protein, which is minimal for their needs. All-flock should contain 20%, a better choice. But since it does not contain calcium, as @FrostRanger said, provide it in the form of oyster shell presented in a separate vessel, available 24/7. They'll help themselves to it when they need it. You won't be able to tell that they're taking any, as they don't need much, but they will.