New to me chickens--laying question

[Lunawriter]

Hi,

I was just given a small coop, a run and six one-year-old hens (of different breeds) last Saturday (Hooray!). The lady who gave them to me said that she usually got between 3-6 eggs a day from them even in the winter. We transported them home in cardboard boxes last Saturday and by the time we got home, an hour later, one of them had already laid an egg! But...since then we've only had two more eggs, total.

I figured it might take them a few days to adjust to a new home, but we're feeding them well, giving them scratch grains every now and then and lots of fresh water and supplementing that with greens from our greenhouse. We're trying to make them happy here...

Oh, and we were told that all winter they've had a red-bulbed heat lamp on day and night for warmth and to promote laying so we've kept it on 24-7, too. Is this okay?

Can anyone tell me when I might expect a more steady supply of eggs from these girls?

 

[pkeeler]

I think your instincts are correct, they are getting used to a new place. It is also possible that in her zeal to sell you on taking the chickens, the laying numbers were exaggerated (or is that egg-zagerated). With more time in the new place, longer days, and warmer temps, you should be getting plenty of eggs soon enough.

A heat lamp is not necessary.

 

[lildinkem]

Alot depends on the breeds of chickens. Some breeds are more prolific layers. Like RIR's, they lay everyday it seems. And the move still may have a lingering effect on them. Usually by March you start to get a steady stream of eggs. By April they ALL should be laying at top production. Make sure you give them a Layers feed. And they should be fine.

 

[Lunawriter]

Thanks for your help! They are getting a layers feed. Should I just be topping it off every time I see the level go down or do they need only a specific amount?

The previous owner told me that one is a Buff Orpington, another is a Rhode Island Red, another is white, but she only knew it wasn't a leghorn and one is black with a greenish caste in daylight. The other two are brown and she didn't know what kind they were.

So, even if they've always HAD a heat-lamp, it's not necessary?

C'mon eggs!

 

[lildinkem]

Quote:
Where are you located? I don't use any lamps. No lites. And it gets down under zero here. For the girls, and Ameraucanas, they hack it out just fine. Most of the birds you mentioned, unless their Bantams, should be strong cold weather birds. When it does get under 20 degrees here in INDY, I bring in the Roosters who's comb's I don't want to freeze. When I go to pick them up and bring them in, their widdle feet are very warm, their doing great out in 10 degree weather. I just do not want the boys combs to frostbite. Girls should have no troubles.

 

[dovecanyon]

If they have been used to having a heat lamp 24/7 you might want to wean them off of it gradually, rather than just stop suddenly. I would at least use one at night for a while until the weather warms up. Then next winter they will be fine without it.

 

[Lunawriter]

Lildinkum, I'm your neighbor.

I live in Northwest Indy. Did I meet you at the Chicken get-together last summer? Your name seems familiar to me.

Dovecanyon, that was my thought as well, weaning them from it. It's the alternative that would make me feel the least cruel anyway! Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[lildinkem]

Lunawriter I did not make it to the shultz's last summer. I hope to get there this year.

 

[bigstack]

I have to agree with everything stated thus far. new home, new people, the move, and etc... It'll just take a lil time for them to get used to it all. PLus being winter slows laying down for alot of breeds. No worries, Just a lil time and lots of love. I didn't see a mention of grit. Do they have access to sand, small gravel or some kind of grit? Some vitamins inwater might help with stress too. Just a thought!

Good Luck and God Bless!

 

[Lunawriter]

Lildinkum, I must just remember you from a previous conversation you participated in, then. The Schultz's were excellent hosts!

Bigstack, they do have both grit and oyster shell available free choice in their run. Haven't tried vitamins in the water, but at the rate they soil their water and have it replaced, I'm not sure I could afford to keep their water vitamin fortified! They do get lots of good greens from my winter greenhouse, though, that should keep them pretty topped up on vitamins--and the occasional worm or two I find in there, too. I'll consider a vitamin additive, though, if the laying doesn't improve with time and warmer weather. Thanks for your help!