Freeloaders are talking over leaving our RIR as our only producer.

[BarneyNCyndi]

We have three hens who will be 2 years old in July. Started with six, two of each: RIR, Buff Orpington, and Barred Rock. We are down to one of each with only our RIR being our only producer. The other two are spending time in the nesting box. One sits on the faux egg. Today, I am going to pull the faux eggs in hopes that they start laying. Our Barred Rock, Trouble, has been moving the faux by laying on it with her upper body. Is this brooding?

Molting, we haven't seen any real signs of molting. We did use a light to warm the coop over winter because... My husbands wife was afraid that her girls were cold. She would pester my husband to check the tempature in the coop.. My poor husband, I do drive him crazy with my chicken worries.

I am very thankful that I may bring my neuroses to this group for answers.

 

[itspebbl]

That is strange that you have 3 two year old hens with only one producing. When the hen sits on the fake egg, she may be getting ready to lay an egg. If she is broody, then she will puff up and growl at you and stay on the nest almost all the time. Did you raise them from chicks or did you buy them as young hens?

 

[BarneyNCyndi]

We raised them from 3 days old. We haven't seen any signs of aggression. I believe she was protecting that faux egg. That is why, I am going to remove it from the nesting box. In the next few weeks on a warm day, I will do my spring de-yucking of their behinds alias chicken bath day. I here that prevents brooding.

 

[BarneyNCyndi]

No new eggs laid. I am going to do the chicken baths and check their vents.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

They should have molted last fall. Chickens don't need extra heat in the winter, running a heat lamp all winter could mess them up as far as laying.

Not all hens lay every day, many take breaks here and there and many things can cause laying to halt.

Good nutrition is very important to keep a hen healthy and in lay, you didn't mention diet and what you are feeding them.

And I'm unsure how many wives your husband has and who's tending to the chickens.