Help with breed and possible egg production

[NHchickenflock]

Hi, we are new to this forum and new to raising chickens.
Our main reason for raising them is eggs.
We just picked up 6 hens from a local farm. We were told they are a year old barred rock/Cochin cross.
Mother barred rock
Father black cochin
After reading up it seems these may not be the best egg producers? More for meat?
Can anyone help us out?

 

[silkielover88]

I have barred rocks and have cross bred with Cochins as well, my Cochin crosses all are very good egg layers, and don't go broody like the full Cochins do. But as for this particular cross it's hard to say. At least with my own personal experience. Best way I would say is just to wait and see. You could always get more chickens if need be

 

[NHchickenflock]

So they could possibly be good layers?
As I said we are very new to this so pardon my stupid question but what does "go broody" mean?
Is there any real way to confirm the age?

 

[Sunshine0235]

Going broody is when they sit on eggs to hatch them, they dont lay during this time.

 

[silkielover88]

Oh sorry! My fault haha. Yes previous coment sums up broody. Lol. And yes they could possibly be good layers, just a waiting game. I don't know how to tell exact age, did the people you got them from happen to write down a hatch date? Or have any approximate time they were hatched?

 

[NHchickenflock]

They didn't give me a date just that they were just over a year old.

 

[NewlyHatchedEgg]

If they are over a year old, they should start laying. Do you have any nest boxes set up? Do they have access to calcium?

 

[NewlyHatchedEgg]

Oh, and by the way

 

[NHchickenflock]

Yes, I put out oyster shells.
I was told by the farm it may take a couple days to start laying again due to the stress from the move.
I put in 4 plastic bins, 12"x14" with 6" sides, I put some shavings in them too.

 

[NHchickenflock]

Thanks!!!