Laying after hatching

[jakmallex]

I have a hen that hatched some babies that are now 9 weeks old. She still has not resumed egg laying. How long until she lays again?

 

[keljonma]

Depends on the hen. Is she still raising the chicks? Our JBG hen is the only one who has hatched a clutch for us. She usually lays her first egg about 2 weeks after she is done raising her chicks. With her last hatch (last year) she left the chicks at 4 weeks. This year, the chicks are 5 weeks old and she is still raising them.

 

[jakmallex]

She started chasing them off of treats last week, but still sleeps with them. 5 of the babies are leaving today, I wonder if that will help.

 

[keljonma]

Yeah, I think that once the hen starts chasing the chicks away and starts squatting again, she'll start laying soon.

 

[jakmallex]

I just found an egg in the food bowl. I guess that answers my question.

 

[keljonma]

Maybe it looked like a nest to her...