;l hen not laying

[ange]

I only have 2 hens, just starting, they are 2 wellssumer hens, and I just figured out only l is laying. They sleep in the same nest, their choice, I provide to but they keep together and when one gets off the nest, the other lays that is to lay, now they both stopped, but I think on os broody. Do you now what? I just removced the broody one.

 

[faykokoWV]

if they just starting laying maybe they're still trying to get it right? Do they go broody that early?

 

[ange]

Well, I am new t all thjis, and have been reading and reading and reading. I only the two hens that I am now wondering about. We bought them at a poultry auction, someone told us they are wells summer, and a few years old. We ahave been getting l egg a day total. Either only one of my hens are laying, and I do not know whcih one, since I just figured out I could have put a leg band on them, or each hen islaying every other day. Now, no one is laying eggs, for abvout 2 weeks now, and nothing has changed except, my one hen is on her nest all the time, and back end flufgffs up, so I think she is broody, think she is laying eggs, since I am new I might have the words mixed up, no eggs or chicks involved at all, only these two.., So, I made a cage with wire a little raised by planks and had only food and water in the cage, she was confused, paced, and paced, I left her in the tight quarters all day and night, she finally settled down, then next day, I let her outr with the other hen, for excercise and was going to put here back in, but since she did not go to the nest, I left her and she seems fine, only goes to her nest at night. Can she be broken already? And maybe I can get eggs. Any advice. etc.

 

[cybercat]

I am betting you got really old hens at auction. Probably past there laying age that is why they were at auction. If the hen on the nest has no eggs I doubt she is broody. Are you saeeing feathers around the coop? They could be moulting or if you are in a real hot zone that also would stop laying. But I am betting they are just past there prime and have stopped becasue they are old hens.

 

[Judy]

If they sleep in nests, but are up during the day, I would say they are not broody. I think the one you confined to a wire cage would have tried to set instead of pacing if she were broody. They were probably sold because they do not lay well any more. I don't believe even younger Welsumers usually lay very well, but have not had them.

They may also lay better after they have adjusted to their new home. Chickens do not adjust to change that well. Give them some time.

And read here:

http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/2902/2902-1097/2902-1097.pdf

 

[kmclay]

My banty hen/chicks go broody very early, like 6 months old. They will not lay eggs when they are broody. They just sit there day after day after day after day.

My husband puts it well when he says they "need some air up their petticoats." Take her off the nest and don't let her get back on for a day. Also sounds like they need more yard time. I don't think they are happy cooped up. Plus, you just got them. Let them acclimate.

 

[the simple life]

I think you have hens that were sold at auction because they were past their prime.
I doubt anything you do is going to make a difference.
I would buy more hens but not at an auction as that is usually the reason they are there, they get old and people unload them.

 

[ange]

simple .ife, I think you are correct. I like these 2 hens, I have growqn attached, so I will keep them but also get another hen or two, I have some rir that are about 3 months old, and not yet ready to lay, I casn get a hen that lays now, and will the other 2 hens hurt it?