How long will they mooch?

[Zonoma]

How long does it usually take for newly acquired (1.5 yr old) hens to start laying again? I know they are very sensitive to change but it's been 2 weeks since full integration with the flock and they are nosing around the nest boxes and seem well-adjusted (no more chest bumping and pecking). Should I be concerned that there's a medical issue (ie: egg bound)? Or is this pretty typical? How long did it take YOUR newbies to start laying again after their integration?

 

[afchicken]

i think it verys ive had some that laid the day i put them in coop (didnt bother finding nest box just used a dark corner)

 

[Fred's Hens]

At this point, if they've settled in well, the issue is not likely the move any longer.

The issue now is moult and fall lighting. The days are getting extremely short. We are well, well past the equinox when days and nights are of equal length. It will keep getting darker until the first day of winter, Dec 21. Then, it begin to grow lighter, day by day. This is why autumn is normally the season when hens virtually take a vacation from laying.

 

[aoxa]

My 1 year old re-homed Delaware only took two days to start laying after I acquired her. It might be different for your hens. The fall hasn't seemed to slow her down much! She will lay 3 days on, 1 day off. It will probably be better when the days get longer.

 

[Darlasmum]

"How long will they mooch?"--- My 1st thought was- my girls "mooch" for food at every opportunity!

 

[anderson8505]

Fred's Hens :

At this point, if they've settled in well, the issue is not likely the move any longer.

The issue now is moult and fall lighting. The days are getting extremely short. We are well, well past the equinox when days and nights are of equal length. It will keep getting darker until the first day of winter, Dec 21. Then, it begin to grow lighter, day by day. This is why autumn is normally the season when hens virtually take a vacation from laying.

I agree, especially if they aren't a production breed. My Speckled Sussex quit laying as soon as we got 1 cool day. Not an egg since. Production reds & BR still putting out an egg nearly every day.

Although, two weeks isn't too long either, I would say at least a month for them to get used to things. If they were egg-bound there would be other signs besides just not laying.

Oh, and they'll mooch from you for the rest of their lives. Every opportunity is one for FOOD.

 

[kari_dawn]

I thought speckled sussex were supposed to be good winter layers?

 

[Zonoma]

Fred's Hens :

At this point, if they've settled in well, the issue is not likely the move any longer.

The issue now is moult and fall lighting. The days are getting extremely short. We are well, well past the equinox when days and nights are of equal length. It will keep getting darker until the first day of winter, Dec 21. Then, it begin to grow lighter, day by day. This is why autumn is normally the season when hens virtually take a vacation from laying.

Aiya. That isn't the answer I wanted but it certainly makes sense.

Thank you all!​

 

[Gypsi]

Gee, this was an informative thread. Texas and Florida are about the same latitude.... So they shouldn't be nice steady one egg per hen per day like when they were young girls.


So if my hens are laying, but the eggs have thin shells, maybe they don't have enough calcium for an abnormally high egg output? I got 1 egg today. Most days get 3. Well I got 1 egg with a strong shell today, I fed the soft cracked one back to the girls. I have one barred rock, she lays a dark egg every 3 or 4 days. The 4 production reds are main output.

I did something today. Sprinkled some oystershell calcium in their water, then poured about 1/4 cup of apple cider vinegar in the bucket that feeds their water. (the calcium is in the surrounding bowl so I can remove it.)

......And they may have mooched but no treats today. Sorry for the hijack. If I've done something bad someone tell me?

Gypsi

 

[kari_dawn]

I would put the crushed oyster shell in a bowl instead of their water. The apple cidar vinegar will help disolve the calcium into the water, but it would be more benificial if they are allowed to self regulate