Laying or Not Laying That Is The Question

[walker1229]

I got 5 hens and a rooster from a lady, she told me they were older either 3 or 4 years old but have been laying well and haven't slowed down at all. I just got them a few days ago so I figured they would not lay for a little while, but I am worried since they are older they really aren't laying anymore...I looked up some stuff about tips to tell if they are still laying or not and the one I have looked at so far seems to be showing signs of not laying, but could that be from the stress or just she really isn't laying anymore?

 

[Mutt Farm]

Hi!

What breed are they? You could research their characteristics here https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/14/general-breed-discussions-faq or just google "how long do XXX lay.

 

[walker1229]

I don't really know I had one person suggest what they might be, so I can at least look up those.

 

[aart]

If you've only had them for 2 days, that's not really long enough to know if moving them will cease their laying.
But if you had no existing birds they may just keep laying, mine first flock(adults) did.
They may slow down or stop once the days shorten more and they may go into molting.

They are likely mixes and even if you knew their breed that wouldn't tell you how long they will lay as each bird is an individual and don't read those charts anyways;-)

Why did you get such old birds?
At least the seller was honest about their ages.

 

[walker1229]

They were free and had been in not the best living conditions, I just wanted to get them somewhere they could get cleaned up and at least have a little of a good life I was hoping to get some eggs since she said they were still laying but if not its ok at least they are doing much better then when they arrived

 

[aart]

They look to be in good condition for having come from "really bad living conditions".
If they were truly neglected, they wouldn't look that good after just 2 days.

 

[lindalouly]

Are these the birds you cleaned up with the mites on their feet??!! They are starting to look good already!!! Proud of you. Give em time to adjust and see.

 

[lindalouly]

Sometimes a little TLC is all they need.. The birds I had that were brought to me in a similar situation started rejuvenating pretty quickly too. It's amazing what a clean area can do for your birds.

 

[walker1229]

Yes they are, many have lost toes and nails and what was left were twisted long and very painful for them they have bad scaly leg mites, which now look way better but still treating, two had a little bit of mites on their backs so they are all being treated for that. And its actually been 4 days, but yes they weren't horrible but they weren't healthy. We had one wheezing really bed but she is already sounding a little better. Sorry that it bothers you that I took these old birds....

 

[aart]

Yes they are, many have lost toes and nails and what was left were twisted long and very painful for them they have bad scaly leg mites, which now look way better but still treating, two had a little bit of mites on their backs so they are all being treated for that. And its actually been 4 days, but yes they weren't horrible but they weren't healthy. We had one wheezing really bed but she is already sounding a little better. Sorry that it bothers you that I took these old birds....

I thought their legs looked good...and thought you only had them for 2 days?