Another Broody question

[The Zoo]

How soon after stopping being broody will a hen start laying again?
I'm still waiting for my hen 'Easy' to start laying again. I've even threatened her with the soup pot or fryer but she knows it's an empty threat - I'm vegetarian!

 

[Biddieacres]

haha I am curious about this as well.

 

[Mrs.Puff]

usually about 5-6 weeks. Mine started again at about 3.5.

 

[The Zoo]

Wow - well I guess it does take a while to get their bodies back into laying shape. At least she's not broody any more!

 

[Mrs.Puff]

Just make sure she's getting a good diet and plenty of calcium. The first thing you will notice is that she will be "eager" to be with a rooster. A day or two later, you've got eggs again usually!

 

[The Zoo]

Um 'eager' to be with a rooster? Please explain. I have no rooster so if she's flaunting herself, it's only for my benefit and I probably won't notice. When I pet her she crouches down - my neighbor said that was a 'come and get me big boy' behavior but I'm not sure.

 

[Mrs.Puff]

yeah, that's a "big boy" response.

If she's already doing that you should be seeing eggs soon. Somebody else on here had a thread recently about "fluffing hen's butts" ...basically simulating rooster behavior.

 

[The Zoo]

Naturally on the day I posted a question - she just laid hr first egg after stopping being broody (about a week ago). Just found it - it was smaller than a normal egg for her and a very pale buff color but it was definitely her so YEA!
Glad I didn't have to fluff her butt, I'm not sure I know her well enough for that

 

[Mrs.Puff]

Very funny.