Broody now, laying later?

[stephienoodle]

I've got an almost 3yo Narragansett hen who has already gone broody only 3 weeks after starting to lay for the season. I've never had her brood this early. She normally lays until the end of July or beginning of August. If I set a clutch under her now, they'll hatch in the 2nd week of May. What are my chances that she will start to lay again before the season is over?

 

[R2elk]

I've got an almost 3yo Narragansett hen who has already gone broody only 3 weeks after starting to lay for the season. I've never had her brood this early. She normally lays until the end of July or beginning of August. If I set a clutch under her now, they'll hatch in the 2nd week of May. What are my chances that she will start to lay again before the season is over?

It depends on the individual hen. I had a Royal Palm hen that started laying one week after the poults hatched. I have had other hens start laying 6 weeks after the poults hatched and others that did not lay again after hatching poults.

If you want her to begin laying again after hatching poults it may be beneficial to remove the poults after they are hatched. Most hens will not lay while they have poults.

Good luck.

 

[stephienoodle]

Well, I guess I will find out. She meant business - had plucked her breast and settled immediately even though I moved her in broad daylight. I gave her 13 eggs about an hour later and she wasted no time in getting them covered.

I won't take the poults from her probably... and if I don't get any more eggs from her this year, so be it. She's such a good mom that I can't deny her the opportunity.