Older hen suddenly started laying eggs again.. after a year or more..

[WIChookchick]

How is this possible? Is it normal for an older hen to suddenly start again?
I have 3 hens that are over 2-3 yrs old and one has suddenly started laying large Grade A brown eggs.
We have a production red/RIR that lays eggs that big, but her sisters have passed on over the last several months.
I have 3 former 4H show hens that I got that were at least 1.5 to 2 yrs old LAST year, and they laid a bit, but
were inconsistent and then non existent. I am getting 2 medium light brown from my BSL hens, and bantam sized
from my silkies and polish bantams...
I have a Light Brahma pullet but she is not old enough to start laying yet, I figure another month before she is ready.
We have seen 1 or 2 of the older hens go in, but have not witnessed them laying.
Could the light brahma be laying so soon?

Carol

 

[Mahonri]

anything is possible

 

[Matt A NC]

I have 3 and 4 year olds that lay very well. Once "Flatbutt" and "Mamma" are finished with their molts they both should start laying again. They are 5 years old. A good hen will lay fairly well till 4 or so years old. There is a small drop off at 3 years old, but they still lay good enough.

Matt

 

[Samilitant]

Quote:
Good info. I had never read about how long they will lay anywhere. I was thinking I would have to get new chicks every spring to keep a rotation going if they only layed for a year or so, but this means maybe only add new chicks or just change all of them out every 3 or 4 years would be fine.

 

[b.hromada]

Quote:
Yes, thanks for the information.

 

[pgpoultry]

A word of caution about when hens will stop laying.

Egg laying hybrids usually start egg laying early, 18-22 weeks and stop egg laying in their third or fourth year, reducing from 6-7 a week , to 2-3 and then stopping completely. Most pure breeds start laying later than hybrids (about 6 months of age or more) and go on laying 3, 4 or 5 eggs a week until they are 7 or 8 years of age.


Sandie