does broody = fewer eggs?

[billmac]

My Welsh Harlequins are only a few months into their first laying cycle. I have 9 hens and was getting 9 eggs a day for weeks. Now it is 5-6 a day. The weather here in NY is cold, but they laid ok when it was colder last month. The only thing is that a few of the hens are broody. Does broody mean no more eggs? Can anything be done?

 

[paddock36]

Yup, that's what that mean. If they are broody then they are not laying. If they are not actually setting on eggs you can break the broody cycle and they should start laying again.

 

[billmac]

I had plastic eggs in the nest boxes (1 in each) and they would gather them together and sit on them, and then add their own. I removed the plastic eggs altogether and of course we collect the real eggs every day. How long does it normally take for them to start laying again?

 

[Bleenie]

I can't recall how long it takes if you break them from brooding but it usually takes my Muscovy girls 2-3weeks after they hatch ducklings before they will lay again. I also remove the ducklings & hand raise them though or it might take longer.