New (old 1-3yo) hens, how much longer? 1 1/2 months - NO EGGS!

kikster

In the Brooder
10 Years
Jul 7, 2009
99
0
39
We got our flock from craigslist (free) on Aug 6, and only 2 of the 5 laying age hens have started laying (about 2-3 wks after bringing them home).

The 3 that aren't laying are the polish, and the wyandotte banties. The old owner could only give us round about ages, since he didn't keep track (and since he was giving them away free, i don't think it mattered to him much, as people were lining up to take them if we didn't). He said that he could only tell us that they are all 1-3 yrs old. We have no idea which are closer to 1 and which are closer to 3.
roll.png
The ones that we originally thought were the oldest, are the two that are laying so we are thinking that we may have been wrong (they're also the ones that the pullets came from - one from each). DH is insisting that he will not continue to purchase feed if there is no possiblity of these girls laying.

How much longer should we give them before we assume that they have nothing to offer? We thought that perhaps the wyandottes were in a molt, as we often see their feathers, if so how long will that last? And if they are the ones that are closer to 3 yrs old, will it even be worth it?

We don't even know what to expect from their breed (we've read that polish aren't great layers, but the wyandottes?)
 
Last edited:
sounds like they might just be older hens that are done laying. If you'd like to keep them, do you have the option to free range them? If so, you might be able to get away with feeding them very very little and let them forage for the rest.
 
sounds like they might just be older hens that are done laying.

That's what hubby's thinking.

Free ranging is not really an option (we're on 1/4 acre and most of it is in front of the house, they're in the back) though we do try to let them out of their fenced pen occasionally when we're out.​
 

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom