eggs?

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Johnny123

Johnny123

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we rescued a mother cochin and 24 week old chicks (6 of which are hers) from a devastating house/farm fire on the weekend. Coincidentally my wife and decided to start raising chicks/chickens about a month ago and had just finished building our coops and brooders so were quite prepared for our unexpected guests. We will be housing these guys til their new home is ready for them and I'm wondering when the mother hen will start to lay eggs again, providing the burning building that she was in didn't stress her out too much. Also, she's very protective of her young ones and wont let her roommate (4 month old Americauna hen) anywhere near her or her children. When will she decide to calm down and allow her fellow peeps to get acquainted? Or should she have space of her own to raise and teach her chicks?
 
I'd give her a place of her own for now, she deserves it. What a stressful time for her, I'm sure the last thing she plans to do is lays some eggs now.

Are all the chicks yours, or are them from a neighbor that had a fire?
 
the cochin came with 24 chicks and they were all huddled together in a burning, smoke filled building. they are not mine but I have a feeling Sandra and I will be taking care of them for quite a while. We recently acquired 70 of our own, layers, turkeys, meats but they are only 1 week old and in the brooder so the coops are available. We will move them around then, to give the momma some space of her own. I agree, she does deserve it. She keeps to her own babies now but during the fire she did everything she could to keep herself between me and all 24 chicks. Was pretty impressive to see how she fought for them all even though they weren't all hers.
 
Welcome to BYC
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Glad you joined us! That's a good mommy hen! So sorry to hear about the circumstances that brought her to you, but glad she and the chicks escaped unharmed. She will not lay any eggs while she's taking care of the chicks, which will most likely be until they are about 7 weeks old, maybe longer.
 
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Welcome to BYC!

What an ordeal these birds had to endure! But at least you are there to give them a good home. Yes, she will need to relax for some time if this caused her great stress. She will also need to finish her motherly duties before her egg machine turns back on. So give her time and enjoy your new flock!
 
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Thank you for rescuing that hen and chick! I know they'll find a good home with you. As sumi mentioned, the hen won't be laying any eggs while she has baby chicks to raise. Give her a couple of weeks.
 
Hello :frow and Welcome To BYC! What a wonderful mother hen! So glad you were able to rescue her. X4 on she will not stop laying until the chicks are older, usually around 7-8 weeks, if she goes into molt it may take her longer than that. With the other hen, she may not accept her until she has started to or has weaned her chicks, if you can keep them separated by wire in the same pen so they can get used to each other and until the chicks are a little older and she is not as protective of them, that usually works pretty well.
 

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