Brooding is over, when laying begins again?

[TC chicken]

I had one hen brood for a little over month, maybe longer. I got her to stop. When will she start laying again?

Also, I put in new landscaping and can't keep the girls out of it. I paid a lot of money to do this at the request of my wife. Is there something I could put down or spray to deter them from tearing it up? I've heard of products like Liquid Fence that use a hot pepper spray. Would a product like this be effective?
Thanks!

 

[junebuggena]

Usually it takes about a month after she's done taking care of chicks that laying resumes. This time of year, she may not lay until spring is on the way. Pepper spray will not work on chickens. They do not have taste buds for 'spicey'. In fact, most chickens love spicy peppers. The only way to keep chickens out of garden beds is to fence them out.

 

[TC chicken]

Thanks!