Help hen troubles!!

[mamachicken6]

I have two hens that are about one and a half years old. One I bought with 8 chicks she hatched and she has never layed for me in the 3 months I've had her. The other hen I have had for 2 weeks and she layed on day two and day three and nothing since! The hens also won't go in their nest boxes they have been sleeping on the floor of their coop! What am I doing wrong?

 

[Mum]

You could put a fake egg into the nest box as a "signal" that that is where to lay.

I don't think you are doing anything "wrong"; hens are hens and they all differ. The one with the eight chicks, have all the chicks grown well? It can take time for a hen to begin laying again after they have raised chicks.

Patience is the key, I think.

 

[mamachicken6]

Me and my daughter put decoy eggs in the boxes today when we cleaned the coop. All eight babies are very healthy they were hatched in April and I separated them from mom about 2 weeks ago. 7 pullets and 1 roo not bad!