Adult chicks / Moving / New chicken owner =?

[zozo411]

I’m new here! I got 3, 8 month old Silkie chickens from someone local about a week ago. They have been in their coop and letting themselves in at night but weren’t coming out in the morning. Now, they come out in the morning too! All good things. I’m worried because they don’t seem to drink that much but we live in upstate NY where it’s still in the 30’s. The person I got them from seemed respectable and said they were laying an egg a day. Although when I first moved them into their coop there seemed to be no eggs “in route”. Should I wait another couple of weeks to see? Do you think he made a mistake? Help! P.s they are on layer crumbles...unsure about water intake though. They’re friendly and seem healthy

 

[Chickiemom25]

I purchased 2 adult girls last year and it took 3 months for them to resume laying. Moves can be stressful.

 

[aart]

Welcome to BYC!
Do you have other chickens too?
You are correct that bird laying every day should have dropped an 'in route' egg the first day in their new home.
Why do you think they are not drinking?
I assume you have an open waterer that is never frozen?

 

[zozo411]

Welcome to BYC!
Do you have other chickens too?
You are correct that bird laying every day should have dropped an 'in route' egg the first day in their new home.
Why do you think they are not drinking?
I assume you have an open waterer that is never frozen?

I have no other chickens. Just those 3 girls. They did not drop even an “in route egg”. Their waterer has never been frozen and I change it typically once or twice a day. I move it from coop to run when they’re outside and then move it back in to the coop at night for them. I almost never see them drink!

 

[aart]

Might just have to wait and see.
I like to mark water level and watch to see if it's is going down,
just leave in coop, they'll go in the eat and drink.

 

[Folly's place]

Feed an all-flock feed, with oyster shell separately, because they don't need that extra calcium in the layer feed.
Stress will put layers off, and a move is a very big stress! Silkies aren't noted to be great egg layers anyway.
They may be used to having water available all the time; a heated waterer would be best if it's freezing overnight.
Silkies are very cute!
Mary

 

[ChickNanny13]

I've read & been told Silkies are great brooders but not layers, I've never owned one just what I've been told. So don't listen to me Do know moving, change& stress does stall any laying. Good advice from aart about marking the water level & Folly's place about feeding All Flock with Oyster Shells in a separate dish. Never owned one, don't think I will but do agree they are so very CUTE!