Just picked up 2 new hens...

[tharrell]

I was told they are both about a year old or so. There is a buff orp and a white cochin. I have a couple questions about them. First, when do you think they will adjust and start laying for me? Second, they have quite a bit of feathers plucked from their backs, will this grow back? And last, they were in with a rooster, if they were being bred how long will the eggs stay fertile? I would really like to try to incubate some if they start laying for me. Thanks so much for your help!!!

 

[ChikeeMomma]

I had a hen where her feathers had been wore/plucked off because she was the roosters favorite. The feathers did grow back. And I had heard or read somewhere that the hens may be fertile for up to three weeks. Better off to have someone else weigh in on the fertility issue also -- still kinda new to chickens.

 

[ChikeeMomma]

Sorry, forgot to answer your first question. It all depends on how comfy the hens feel in their new surroundings. I have had some take no break at all or up to two weeks until they started laying for me. So good luck and best wishes!

 

[Judy]

I have read here several times that 3 weeks on the fertility is a good working number. Here's hoping they start laying well before that!

 

[tharrell]

Any other thoughts?

 

[speckledhen]

Two weeks, three at the outside, for the continued fertility. There have been some very rare cases of fertility after 4 weeks, but as I said, very rare.

 

[tharrell]

Ok, I checked on them at about 4 this afternoon. I came home around 8 and there was already an egg! I can hardly believe this. Hopefully this wasn't a fluke, and they will continue to lay. YAY!!!

 

[vickie2133]

congrads on the egg, and the new hens. I agree with everyone else on the 3 weeks.

 

[Jennie5193]

I have some eggs in the bator that are due to hatch out in a week that were from a hen very much like you have. I collected all of the eggs for the 1st 10 days and then put them in the incubator. They are developing very nicely

Some of them were not fertile, but I kept getting fertile ones more than 3 weeks later.

Good luck!

All of my "new" hens have started laying regularly within two days. I even had one hen lay an egg 12 hours after we brought her home!

 

[Puma]

I just asked the same question this week. I picked up two 8 month old Leghorns on Sunday. When I checked Monday morning nothing. But........by the afternoon I had two beautiful eggs. Got two more today..............