6 Year old hen started laying again after 3 years

[HobbitLovr]

This is not really a question but more just sharing my experience, since I couldn't find anything similar on the site.

A few days ago I suddenly got 3 eggs on the same day while I though one of my hens had stopped laying years ago. I have 3 hens that lay at the moment a blue barred at least 5 year old backyardmix who has been laying for years, a splash (probably barred) at least 6 years old backyardmix who stopped laying 3 years ago and a 7 month old silkie. My blue hen has been laying small round white eggs (left in the picture), so I know what her eggs look like. Before this year I also never had 2 eggs on the same day or eggs that differed in looks. So when I started getting 2 eggs on the same day I naturally assumed my silkie had started laying, these new white eggs are more oval (middle in picture). But then I received a small brown egg on the same day as the other 2 (right in picture). Since my 2 mixes are related I could now obviously assume the white eggs belong to them, while the brown egg belongs to the silkie.
View attachment 4116528
Left egg from blue hen, middle from splash hen, right from silkie hen.

I assumed the splash hen stopped laying because I moved a few years ago. Back then I downsized from 20 birds to 3 chickens and 3 ducks. I don't remember her laying ever since then. As to why she has started laying again there are 3 big changes since last year. Firstly I have a new coop now that is way more comfortable space-wise, went from a 1m by 1m to an about 2m by 5m. Secondly I added the silkie 2 months ago. And finally I got a rooster last October. I personally think the rooster might be the reason she started laying again. It makes sense to me that since eggs are there for reproduction adding a male after years would be the reason for a hen to start laying again. What are your opinions on this?
View attachment 4116556
From left to right: Ayam Cemani rooster, splash hen, blue hen, silkie hen.

 

[ChickQueen77]

my hens stopped laying when I moved some of my chickens into different coops and finally started laying again about 2-3 months ago

 

[HobbitLovr]

A few days ago I suddenly got 3 eggs on the same day while I though one of my hens had stopped laying years ago. I have 3 hens that lay at the moment a blue barred at least 5 year old backyardmix who has been laying for years, a splash (probably barred) at least 6 years old backyardmix who stopped laying 3 years ago and a 7 month old silkie...

My Coretta suddenly started laying regularly again after a two year pause this spring. Frankly, I was surprised that she was still alive at 8+ years old, so even more surprised when she started laying again! I’m in town, so no roosters, just the two girls. And my 4 year-old Austrolorp, Sadie, started crowing around the same time Coretta started laying. Not a nice My cockadoodledoo - her “crow” sounds like an old woman screaming in pain. Very odd, root and twig.

Let’s face it: chickens are weird. But we love them. Coretta jumps in my lap and instantly takes a nap. Then of course I can’t move until she decides to wake up, while Sadie stares at us sideways with that otherworldly intelligent piercing gaze. But I digress…

 

[WestCountryFarm]

This is not really a question but more just sharing my experience, since I couldn't find anything similar on the site.

A few days ago I suddenly got 3 eggs on the same day while I though one of my hens had stopped laying years ago. I have 3 hens that lay at the moment a blue barred at least 5 year old backyardmix who has been laying for years, a splash (probably barred) at least 6 years old backyardmix who stopped laying 3 years ago and a 7 month old silkie. My blue hen has been laying small round white eggs (left in the picture), so I know what her eggs look like. Before this year I also never had 2 eggs on the same day or eggs that differed in looks. So when I started getting 2 eggs on the same day I naturally assumed my silkie had started laying, these new white eggs are more oval (middle in picture). But then I received a small brown egg on the same day as the other 2 (right in picture). Since my 2 mixes are related I could now obviously assume the white eggs belong to them, while the brown egg belongs to the silkie.
View attachment 4116528
Left egg from blue hen, middle from splash hen, right from silkie hen.

I assumed the splash hen stopped laying because I moved a few years ago. Back then I downsized from 20 birds to 3 chickens and 3 ducks. I don't remember her laying ever since then. As to why she has started laying again there are 3 big changes since last year. Firstly I have a new coop now that is way more comfortable space-wise, went from a 1m by 1m to an about 2m by 5m. Secondly I added the silkie 2 months ago. And finally I got a rooster last October. I personally think the rooster might be the reason she started laying again. It makes sense to me that since eggs are there for reproduction adding a male after years would be the reason for a hen to start laying again. What are your opinions on this?
View attachment 4116556
From left to right: Ayam Cemani rooster, splash hen, blue hen, silkie hen.

Funnily enough, I had 6 eggs today from 5 layers and one old girl! Old Fanny Adams hasn't laid for over a year, she's the last of my first batch of "second hand" chooks, and the other 5 are all youngsters bought last October as POLs. Their eggs are easily identifiable as they're three different breeds - two Devon Bronze, one Devon Blue and two Light Sussex. Fanny is a Burford Brown, bought from the local egg farm nearly three years ago approx two years old. There's been no change in their circumstances, although hubby forgot to shut the barn door last night! (Don't panic, they are in a secure pen in the barn)
I found this chat when googling "can old hens start laying again". I've read various useful articles on this site, keep up the good work!

 

[msmidwick]

I must share also. I haven't had a rooster for 3 years. 9 hens and 4 eggs maybe daily. I now have a beautiful buff brahama rooster and I am getting 9 eggs almost daily. Happy hens!!! I have had chickens off and on for 30 years and am still learning about them. hahaha