The Barn
Freesteading group focused on the discussion of livestock.
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Hens not laying
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Hens not laying
Our
Jeeves is a bit too enthusiastic with a couple of our hens. We have
pulled them from the flock into our “hospital” coop so they can recover
their feathers and heal up without the other hens picking at them. My
question is about their laying…. they haven’t at all in the 6 days
they’ve been separated. I have assumed it was stress and that given time
they would settle in. How long can I expect to wait? One is nearly a
year old and the other 6 months.
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16 Replies
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The older one could be molting. The other…
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👍🏻
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Mine always cut back this time of year. I waterglass several dozen so I have eggs through the winter. December through February I usually don’t get any.
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I’m in Texas and our egg production goes way down in summer and stays strong through winter. They just started laying well again about a month ago.
I did my first water-glassing this spring. I am so glad to have learned about it because that’s what got us through the summer dry spell!
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I started it last year and absolutely loved it. It put away to many last time so I’ve cut back this year.
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This last Fall, my hens molted and decreased laying to one egg a day, but they have ramped back up, despite the very low light.
I have a hen who is probably lowest on the totem pole and skittish. She is small and not laying yet. Her hatchmate had been laying for at least a month. I bring her in to the house to get some extra food in her before it gets bitter cold, and she is SUCH a picky eater. Last night it was raining, and I didn’t want to walk her back out to the coop yet… Here is where she ended up. At least she was up out of the way. 🤣
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I bought chicken diapers so I could bring mine in the house , that needed a little extra care.. people think I’m crazy nut chickens are way smarter that I once thought they were.. and some make good pets…
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O my we are not taking in any chickens, they can be separat for the time being.
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Great idea–thanks!
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Are you sure that the 6 month old had started laying?
I will admit that I am not familiar with your breed. The information you have on it, when do they typically slow down with their laying?
Usually, if stress effects their laying they usually back at it in about 3-5 days. A young pullet who has matured in late fall will usually lay straight through the winter. I always try to have a few pullets going into winter so I can be sure of fresh eggs all winter.
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I’m actually not sure the 6 month old had been laying yet… she’s a black australorp and her hatch mates of the same breed had so I just assumed. The 1 year old is a copper laced wyandotte and she’s been laying since 5 months. But it has been nearly 10 days now and no eggs in the nesting box or coop….
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I got Isa Brown chickens this past spring and they have been EXCELLENT, CONSISTENT layers. I did some research on them and found they are BRED to lay lots of eggs & thus have a short life span. I will keep Isa Browns in my flock always due to their egg production but will also keep heritage breeds that can breed to hatch chicks or for me to incubate. You can’t breed Isa Browns since they are hybrid chickens. What you will end up with will not be a true Isa. 2nd article below explains this better than I can.
https://chickenandchicksinfo.com/isa-brown-chickens-lifespan/
Another good source of info for Isa Browns & reproduction:
https://domesticanimalbreeds.com/isa-brown-chicken-breed-everything-you-need-to-know/
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I added another link explaining about breeding them but not sure if you will get a notification of the edit. Here it is just in case, so you can read it.
https://domesticanimalbreeds.com/isa-brown-chicken-breed-everything-you-need-to-know/
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No more isa brown or any hybrid for that matter, what a crazy bunch a chicken.
The Jersey can lay at choice, real American character. Barbezieux lay huge eggs and poul de Bresse are real workers. They are the besteld choice, foraging a lot and need less feed. Composting and working in de garden, good layers breeders and meat chickens.
But I love my Jersey Giants, just can not do without my American. After my favorite, the Barbezieux make me laugh with there cabaret. They are like the France Yankees.
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