New hens haven't laid yet! Paranoid new hen mom!

[Missy821]

I brought four eighteen-month-old Speckled Sussex hens home this weekend, and on the way, someone laid an egg right in the cat carrier! (I took so many pictures, haha!)

The next day, we were introducing the hens to their new run, which entailed catching them and placing them in it, as the coop and run aren't connected yet. (But they will be soon!) My boyfriend reached for a hen who jumped--and laid a shell-less/soft-shell egg at the same time!

We haven't had any eggs since then (Sunday), and though the girls are all active, eating well, running around (I hung a head of cabbage for them, as someone suggested on here, and they loved it!), definitely getting friendlier toward us, and settling in to their new home, the soft egg has me concerned. Their past owner said they don't lay everyday, and I know stress counters egg production for a while, but I wanted to know what symptoms I should watch for in order to tell if there's a larger problem. None look sick in any way, but maybe I don't know what to look for? If there was a problem (egg-bound, internal laying, etc.), I imagine their behavior would reflect it... right?

We're feeding them Purina Layer feed at 16 percent protein free-choice, a handful of scratch each morning to get them used to coming to us, oyster shell and grit free choice, a little cabbage from their game, and a few handfuls of bagged, pre-shredded carrots today. (On that note, are shredded carrots okay? They love them, and they just slurp the pieces down! Do we have to cut up the longer ones?)

Thanks!

 

[tamelroy]

They may need time to settle in. you sound like you are doing everything right.

 

[Dixiedoodle]

Stress can cause soft shell eggs. Give the girls another week to get used to everything before you start to worry. LOL I am still a paranoid hen mom and I have had my girls since July... Have fun getting to know your girls..

 

[underground chickenman]

Are they getting enough light? Windows in the coop and supplemental artificial light? The days are still pretty short up north, so you may need to supplement the sun with artificial light. If they are not getting at least 15 hours of light, laying will be reduced or stop all together. At that age, you could also trigger a molt, which will keep you out of eggs (and feathers) for up to several months. Hang a 40watt bulb on a timer set to come on about 4AM or about 15 hours before dusk. You can set it go to off after the sun is up good and lighting their coop and run.

UGCM

 

[Missy821]

I do have a light out there for them, so they are getting between 14-16 hours of light a day (depending on the silly Chicago weather).

Thanks for the replies everyone! I'm hopeful that if I just wait, they'll get used to their new home.

 

[HEChicken]

Typically after a move like this, they will stop laying for anywhere from one to several weeks, until they adjust to their new home. People are often fooled when their "just moved in" hens lay an egg the very next day. The reason they do, is that the egg was already "in the works" before the move. Once its in the system, it has to continue to pass through and be laid. But the stress of the move will stop them developing any more eggs until they are fully settled in.

 

[Warthog]

I think it's probably just the move to a new home, give them time.

 

[Missy821]

Yay! Someone laid an egg yesterday! At least one my four girls appears to be settling in!

Thanks again for the input!

 

[cluckcluck42]

When I got my first chickens, they all laid the next day no problem. I recently bought 4 welsummers, and they are now molting and not laying. I'm glad they are molting because of their poor backs, dang roosters. Isn't it brutal to wait for those eggs!!! I feel your pain. Two weeks and counting.