Old hens laying again?

[Hdghawg]

I have 5 old hens that quit laying many months ago and 14 new hens I bought at 2 days and are now laying almost full force. My question is can the introduction of new laying hens cause the older ones to start again? I ask because some days I get more than 14 eggs and a couple are obviously larger. Do they think they could become stew any time now and figured they better start laying again? (They won't as it's way to much trouble for me to process them than it's worth and I won't just outright kill them unless they are obviously sick or injured.)

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

What do you consider old hens? A few of my older hens, over 6 with sporadically lay out of the blue producing less than 10 eggs a year, but generally most quit altogether and never resume after 6.

 

[Hdghawg]

Interesting, mine are 5 yoa. I just thought it was odd that all of a sudden I'm getting a couple eggs from any of them as soon as the newer ones are producing daily.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

A few years back I switched to a higher protein all flock ration for my flock. Within a year an 8 year old hen started sporadically laying again after quitting for 3 years. So maybe your hens got some extra protein in their diet, or just maybe the young ones inspired them.

 

[Courtney's_chickens]

Yes! They could/and will lay again! Sometimes new hens that lay eggs can simply influnence your old hens to lay. The older girls see eggs in the nesting box, then want to sit on the eggs or add to it--that is their natural insinct, and when they start to sit on the eggs, that will make them want to lay as well. ALSO another way your older hens will lay again, could be when you add a rooster, roosters make hens broody, and a broody hen will lay eggs! Just recently, I added a new rooster to my flock of girls, and my SEVEN year old hen started laying eggs again! But just a side note, the laying of eggs may not last as long, but could last for a while, Depends on the bird I guess.