New flock, all hens laying but one, how long?

[logansmommy7]

Hi!

I have a new flock. I just got a rooster and hen with four chicks (her own chicks) last Friday. Two days later, I bought 7 hens from a friend who wanted to scale down her flock. All of the new hens are laying (we got seven eggs the second day), but the mother of the four chicks has yet to give us an egg we think. How will I know if she is laying? She got out of the run on the second day we had her and my dog chased her, so I knew that she might have been a bit traumatized by that and not lay for a while, but how long should we give her? Do we wait until we get 8 eggs in one day to know that she is definitely laying? The lady we got her from says that she was always a good layer. THoughts?

Thanks in advance.

 

[grandmachicken]

If she is raising her chicks herself, that is, keeping them with her at night and with her during the day, she probably won't lay until the chicks are old enough to be on their own. This varies with some hens. I have a broody hen who hatched 5 chicks and stayed with them day and night, taught them how to hunt, kept them warm at night, etc. (it was really very cute and endearing, I had no idea chickens could be so maternal). When they hit 5 or 6 weeks of age, she turned them loose, and soon after that, she started laying again. So you may just need to give her time.

Alas, after two weeks of laying every day, this crazy bird has suddenly gone broody again. I took the one egg she was setting on, and now she is setting on - nothing!

Enjoy your new flock!

Christi

 

[logansmommy7]

Thank you! I was thinking maybe that was the case since she is definitely mothering them and protecting them. Before we got the other hens, the rooster was even caring for them. The little chicks would even get up under him at night. He is a surprisingly nice roo. Hope she will lay again soon....thanks for the advice!