We'd really like to hatch eggs from our 2 year old Lemon Cuckoo Orpington Hens, we have seprated them from our other hens, but haven't got any eggs yet. I think they have just finnished moulting. We put a light in their coop about 6 days ago (incase they stopped laying because of less daylight hours) and have been feeding them hard boiled eggs and mealworms to give them extra protein. Should we do anything different? How long do you think it will be until we get any eggs? Thanks in advance
Bringing a hen back into point of lay after a molt can take a while. For best results you need to increase the light gradually, adding time in the morning every few days. I don't have the schedule right off, but it's something like half an hour every 3 days until you reach 14 hours. It can take a month or so, you have to give their bodies time to recognize the change in "seasons", so to speak.
Is that pic current??...they sure look ready there! Stress of being separated could slow production down too. I assume there is a cockbird in there with them?
