Dominant Hen?

[tribemama]

We got two laying hens from the same farm two weeks ago and have them together in a coop and run. They have settled in well and the dominant hen finally resumed laying yesterday, giving us an egg yesterday and today. The other hen will sit in the box but has not yet laid. Will she start soon since the dominant hen is laying now? Will that make her feel more secure? They are both Black Sexlinks around 2 years old? Thanks!

 

[megan13]

It could just take them a while to adjust. Chickens hate change. Does she sit in the box all the time? Is it possible that she could be broody? And are there other chickens in their coop and run too?

 

[lizsmall99]

I'm sure she's fine and just getting used to her new home. Chickens get freaked out from moving and there have been cases when a hen stops laying for a year after she moves. There's nothing you can do about it besides making sure she eats and drinks. She's just as shocked as you are I'm sure! Give her some egg laying pellets and vitamins and she'll be fine!

Good luck and congrats on your babies!

 

[tribemama]

We have just the two of them together, they are being quarantined and will be moved into the large coop in a few weeks with our other four. They eat well, get out and free range and drink well. The one hen surprised us as she never sat in the box until yesterday when she finally laid her egg, the second hen does sit in there for a bit every day, but no eggs yet. I am curious if she was waiting for the dominant hen to start laying, or if the second hen will start laying because the dominant hen is doing it now.

They are very sweet girls and they can take all the time they need, and we are very happy that one has started laying for us

 

[megan13]

It sounds like everything's ok. She'll probably start laying soon. Keep us posted.

 

[tribemama]

Will do, thanks!

 

[aart]

We have just the two of them together, they are being quarantined and will be moved into the large coop in a few weeks with our other four. They eat well, get out and free range and drink well. The one hen surprised us as she never sat in the box until yesterday when she finally laid her egg, the second hen does sit in there for a bit every day, but no eggs yet. I am curious if she was waiting for the dominant hen to start laying, or if the second hen will start laying because the dominant hen is doing it now.

They are very sweet girls and they can take all the time they need, and we are very happy that one has started laying for us

Hard to say why one started and the other didn't, but the one's laying may well incite the other to start up again.

Are the new ones free ranging the same ground your other birds are?
If so, you are not quarantining.

 

[tribemama]

They are not free ranging together, the other four are only four weeks old and still in the house. We will move them out in another two weeks, once we have had the new hens a full month. They have had no contact at all and the babies haven't been on grass yet. The babies will go in the new coop and run for a week or two before we move the new hens in in their existing small coop so they can get to know one another through the wire separation. They will not have contact for six full weeks just to be sure.

 

[aart]

They are not free ranging together, the other four are only four weeks old and still in the house. We will move them out in another two weeks, once we have had the new hens a full month. They have had no contact at all and the babies haven't been on grass yet. The babies will go in the new coop and run for a week or two before we move the new hens in in their existing small coop so they can get to know one another through the wire separation. They will not have contact for six full weeks just to be sure.

Sounds good!
Didn't realize your other 4 were just brooder chicks with no exposure to the ground.

 

[tribemama]

We are being extra cautious. Raised four chicks starting in March and all four were roos so we had to rehome. Got four sexed chicks to raise and then the hens so we could get some eggs while waiting for the little ones to grow. The kids are so attached we are being extra careful that everything goes well. New big coop is being built that has a huge run so they will all be happy and comfy