No eggs!

[marenategoodman]

I have 2 buff orphingtons. 1 went broody and hatched three chicks. As soon as the one hen went broody, the other stopped laying. They each layed one a day for about a year. Right around the same time as the hen went broody we got two new chicks from the farm store. They have a couple more months before they start laying. So now I have seven, and none laying. How can I get my buff's to start laying again? They also hoard the chick start from the younger hens. They don't really eat the pellets, they eat the chick start. Help!

 

[chicmom]

Well, unless you can separate them, it's pretty impossible for you to keep the older hens from eating the younger pullet's food. You can buy a brand of food called Purina Flock Raiser, that is good for all ages though.

Broody hens just don't lay. That's something you really can't change. You could always find a breed that isn't broody like the the golden buff. They're a hybrid chicken often called cinnamon queen, or amber link, or golden comet.....They are great layers and rarely go broody. I have several and they have never gone broody. Great little layers.

What I like to do is, I sell the hens I no longer want so that I can get more. Of course, you have a small flock and may be attached, so this may not be an option to you.....

Good luck!

Sharon