Hi from Alabama

[mdill]

My name is Mike and I am new to chickens. I have three rhode island red hens and seven baby chicks that I got from the local feed and seed store. The chicks are doing fine but the big hens have been here for three days and no eggs. The conditions that I got them out of were less than ideal. I am pretty sure that all they got to eat other than grass was corn. Is it just to soon or maybe their diet needs time to adjust. I am giving them laying pellets at will and oyster shells at will. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[cluckcluckgirl]

Your hens are probably adjusting to their new environment and replenishing nutrients. Moving from one home to another can impact egg laying, but if the hens didn't have a good previous home, then it could take them a little longer for them to get adjusted and start laying. One thing that I would recommend to help them replenish nutrients is a vitamin and electrolyte supplement called Poultry Nutri-Drench (commonly found in feed stores). Don't worry, your girls should start laying once they get adjusted to their new home and replenish nutrients.

Glad you joined!

 

[Kelsie2290]

Hello and Welcome To BYC! Any kind of stress can stop hens from laying, moving to a new home is a big one, and if you add poor nutrition and health to it, it maybe a while before you see eggs. How old are the girls? How is their body and feather condition? Since they didn't come from the best of homes, you might consider worming them now since they aren't laying now anyhow, and be sure to check them over carefully for mice/lice. Here is a good link covering why your hens are not laying. https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/423023/why-arent-my-chickens-laying-here-are-your-answers
Be sure to check out the BYC Learning Center, it has a lot of nice articles on all aspects of chicken keeping https://www.backyardchickens.com/atype/1/Learning_Center
You might also like to check out the Alabama state thread for your chicken keeping neighbors https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/29002/alabama

 

[TwoCrows]

Welcome to BYC!

X3 When hens are moved to a new home, this can cause enough stress to stop them from laying. Move slowly around them, don't handle them much for a couple weeks and just keep the stress down for them. It helps to go sit with them in the run on their level, on the ground. Let them get used to you and learn that you and their new home is a safe place to be.

Good luck with you new hens and welcome to our flock!

 

[mdill]

This sounds crazy but I don't know how old they are. The only thing I can tell you is they look pretty good other than the tail feathers. Looks like the other chickens at the old home were picking at them. I did look them over good for lice and didn't see anything. The first evening I did notice one that did "lay an egg" but no shell at all. I read that that could be that they are just now starting to lay or that could be diet also. Lack of calcium.

 

[TwoCrows]

Stress can do that as well. So it could be all of the above. Make sure to have some oyster shell on hand at all times and keep it near the feed and water. They won't go looking for it, but they will eat it as they need it if available. Keep the treats and free ranging down to a dull roar so they eat their layer feed. They need all the calcium they can get. And just give them some time. If you notice any feather eating, or plucking, you might offer up some cooked ground turkey or cooked ground beef a couple times a week. This will add some really good high protein to the diet should they need more.

It can take new hens a couple weeks to get back into the groove. So just give them time to adjust, keep the stress down for them and they should come around soon.

 

[gander007]

Alright Mike,

 

[Duckopolis]

Good luck with your chicken raising adventures, and I hope you find everything you need to know! Glad to have you with us. Don't forget to take a look at BYC's very useful learning center (If you haven't already)! The learning center as well as the forum should answer your questions! Advice, watch how many chickens you get, because....2+2=15 chickens!

 

[cabinchicky]

hello and welcome! good luck with your girls! I would like to add that a cheap bag of cat food will help too in protein for them.once they get to laying you can use shells for calcium as well,microwave them a few minutes n break them up. I keep shell chips and oyster near the food.