How long till a hen with chicks lays eggs again?

[bantyshanty]

Her 2 chicks are 10 days old today. She's my best layer. She's a silkie. When might she start laying again? She free ranges in the flowerbed next to the house with them during the day, so I don't want to miss one laid under the greenery.

 

[feathersnuggles]

Probably when the chicks are 6-8 weeks old.

 

[Lollipop]

That`s a tough question. I`ve had hens that didn`t lay for 3-4 weeks after they weened chicks and I`ve had some that started laying while they still had chicks with them. Depends on the hen.............Pop

 

[pgpoultry]

My two Brahma hens who went broody at the same time both started laying four and a half weeks after hatching and started laying again on the same day.

Hens of different types and even hens of the same type start to lay again at different times, but 3-6 weeks seems to be about average,


Sandie

 

[lauralou]

Yep. Three to six weeks sounds about right.

 

[Heathercp]

My first broody took a lot longer than that to start laying again. Her chicks hatched in January and she didn't start laying again until April. In May she was broody again. Good mama hen. Not so good layer.

 

[tofumama]

My chicks are 6 weeks old and just today the Mama is starting to leave them on their own...no eggs from her yet but maybe this is a sign...she is a silkie also. I agree...great mom, not so great about laying!

 

[PatS]

My BO has just begun laying seven weeks after her chicks hatched, and about two days after she turned her chicks loose and started squatting again.

 

[bantyshanty]

Thanks for all the responses! I'd better break my next broody if I want eggs then. I only have 3 layers right now.