Hi there - three days ago I was given five lovely year-old laying hens. We prepared as well as we could for them. But I really know NOTHING about birds! We became the guardians of Mama, a noisy Rhode Island Red, two Brahmas (those birds are SMART!) and two silver-lace Wyandottes. We are naming them as they show their personalities; there's Mama, and one of the Brahmas is Deenie, short for Houdini, because in one day she figured out how to get under a weak spot in our fencing, and I have seen her testing the fence! Wow - not even I am that meticulous . . . All my hens are wonderful and they have added tremendously to our household.
They are laying - 9 eggs in 4 days - and I'm pretty sure that's in spite of being stressed out. They moved away from many sisters, and from their beloved rooster, whom I think they miss, though I can't say why I think that. They moved into a completely different coop. Their caregivers are different. To top it off, here in the Northeast there's an unusually hot spell - temps around 90 (no laughing, Texas . . :-) and they're managing that all right. Still, I don't even know what to expect them to do when they're laying eggs! Is panting and a scratchy gargly bawk normal when they sit on the nest? I keep worrying I'll miss signs of illness and I'd rather catch it sooner.
Oh well - fuss fuss. Any and all support would be welcome! And thanks for being such a great community.
Martha in New York State
from Ohio. So glad to have you aboard. They may not lay for awhile until they get used to their new place. Frozen fruit pieces helps when it is really hot. Make sure they have shade and plenty of clean water. 
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