no eggs yet....?

[MadisonOde]

Hey all,
I have a one year old silkie hen, and she hasn’t laid any eggs yet. I got her almost a month ago, and I know silkies don’t lay many eggs, but shouldn’t she have least laid one? I also have noticed some runny poo in the run, just brown, could that be related or just a coincidence?

 

[RustyBucketFarmGirl]

Hey all,
I have a one year old silkie hen, and she hasn’t laid any eggs yet. I got her almost a month ago, and I know silkies don’t lay many eggs, but shouldn’t she have least laid one? I also have noticed some runny poo in the run, just brown, could that be related or just a coincidence?

I got an Easter Egger that was a little over 2 years that didn’t lay for 3 months of being here. I think some just take the transition harder than others. She seemed to take a break and then once she felt comfortable here she was good to go.
And the runny poop could be just as related as unrelated. How many birds in the flock all together? How many new ones? Did you quarantine them to ensure good health?

 

[PirateGirl]

When I got some laying ducks as adults from another farm it took about 6 weeks before they laid for me.

 

[Peppercorngal]

Chickens are individuals and have their own personalities and issues as well. I have a speckled sussex that didn't lay until she was 16 months old. She laid a few eggs and has now stopped. She is very sensitive to the other chickens pecking order (she's one of the bottom ones), rather hyper as well. She would rather follow me around and hang out with me than the other chickens. So, maybe your hen is sensitive, maybe just can't relax, I don't know. Are you going to be ok with her being a free loader?

 

[Morrigan]

Yes, give her time. Some take change harder than others, and some are flat out late bloomers. It's very rare (but not completely unheard of) that a hen will be otherwise healthy, but not lay at all.

 

[MagpieDucks]

I got a Leghorn hen from a friend once. They said it was laying everyday still. After about 2 months it finally gave me 1 tiny little fairy (yolkless) egg. I never did get a normal size egg from her.

Just give her some time, silkies aren’t known to be great layers anyway.

 

[Blooie]

Can’t add to the great responses you’ve received about the laying, but I will answer your question about the runny brown poop. It’s most likely cecal poop, perfectly normal and something they pass regularly. It’s usually brown, usually loose, and smelly as all get out.