Australorp Broody Problem

[Tomcompac]

Hello, I started raising chickens about 7 weeks ago. I got six pullets, 4 Isa Browns and 2 Australorps. Several weeks ago I went on vacation and had a chicken sitter for a week. When I got back, the 2 Aussies had gone broody so I looked up the cure and after having them in isolation each for 3 days they returned to the flock and seem perfectly happy but have not laid eggs for about 2 weeks now. Someone said you have to wait about 40 to 50 days. This would be the normal hatch and rearing cycle before they will lay again. As Han Solo would say, I'm not in this for your revolution, I'm in this for the eggs. Do I really have to wait that long ? The Isa Browns are doing wonderfully. Thanks.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Every hen is different, catch them early and break them they resume sooner. Expect anywhere from a week to 6 weeks, most fall around 2-3 weeks.

 

[aart]

I just read a theory on this that is interesting.....
......eggs will come after the same number of days that they were broody.
Have no idea if it's true or not<shrugs> probably not.

I've also read that a broody will molt after hatching out chicks, that could depend on time of year and age of broody.

You'll just have to wait and see...as Blooie like to say "They are not pez dispensers".
Chickens have 'downtimes' for a number of reasons.
If you're wanting eggs all the time without fail, you'll need to get all production type hybrids and change them out every year or two.

BTW @Tomcompac your avatar pic made my morning, thanks, hilarious!

 

[Tomcompac]

Hello Flock Master
You were right. My broody Australorps went back to laying after the cure and the same length of time they had been broody. They had been broody for 2 weeks and then underwent solitary confinement for 3 days and then returned to the flock but did not start laying for a little over 2 weeks. When they did start re-laying their eggs were quite small, but they are now again a normal size. Thanks again for the information.

 

[Tomcompac]

Hello. I have found out that they will lay again after the solitary confinement cure but will take the same numbers of days to lay as they were broody before the cure.