Rehomed Chickens not Laying

[CoopBoots]

I haven't only gotten brown eggs

Got it, so your Leghorn is not laying then. You ought to get a nice, pure white egg once she resumes.

 

[newchickmomma83]

Got it, so your Leghorn is not laying then. You ought to get a nice, pure white egg once she resumes.

Awesome thank you so very much for your help!! How long do you think it will take them to start laying since they've been moved

 

[CoopBoots]

Awesome thank you so very much for your help!! How long do you think it will take them to start laying since they've been moved

So much depends on the individual bird's personality, her age, and current health. The best you can do is do health checks, treat any issues that come up, and prevent bullying and any further stressors. Definitely watch out for bullying if they stay confined for the most part; even a nice bird will develop bad habits if they get bored within close proximity of other birds.

 

[newchickmomma83]

You have been so very helpful thank you! My grey one, Rosie, is definitely the one that's stressed. Which is weird because she was the one laying an egg a day until this past weekend. I want so bad to make everything better for her! The other 2 don't seem affected but I don't know .

But really thank you for all of your advice and help!

 

[nuthatched]

They won't lay util they're comfortable and feel safe in their new environment. Could take weeks or months.
I'd recommend extending the run on your 'coop' as soon as you're able.

 

[Mrs. K]

It will take a bit of time. What often happens, is some will lay right away...and then nothing. The egg laid was in the pipe so to speak. Chickens hate change.

Please don't think I am criticizing you, but you don't have enough space for 5 birds. Those pre-fab coops are so cute, but really they are not enough room for 3 chickens. If you add two more chicks to that, you are going to have a lot of trouble. I am betting that the coop said 6 chickens. But that is not true.

In order to have 5 chickens - you really need a coop with at least 20 sq ft. So the coop needs to be at leas 4 feet x 5 feet - just guessing, you have 3 ft x 4 ft? Bare minimum for 3 birds. The run, need to have 10 sq feet per bird, so 50 sq feet, 10 x 5, 4 x 12. These are rules of thumb, but in truth lack of space causes very, very ugly chicken behavior.

There is the tendency to think, well I can let them out into the yard for an hour or so a day. But they are not like puppies, where as if you go for a walk, they are fine.

There is also the idea of they just sleep and eat in the coop - but there are the long nights of winter, where mine roost up about 4:15 and don't get off until 7:00.

I don't want to rain on your parade, it is so fun and exciting to get chickens, but I think you have been sold a bill of goods as to your coop and set up that will lead to trouble.

Mrs K

 

[newchickmomma83]

I very much appreciate your response. But I was never going to put 5 chickens in that coop!! There is no way anyone could fit 5 in there. And I actually started getting another egg today so I'm very excited. I have been around animals (although not chickens) my whole life and I promise they are very much spoiled and I do worry about them always already just like any pet. I didn't get chickens for the egg prices.

But again I appreciate your response and concerns.

It will take a bit of time. What often happens, is some will lay right away...and then nothing. The egg laid was in the pipe so to speak. Chickens hate change.

Please don't think I am criticizing you, but you don't have enough space for 5 birds. Those pre-fab coops are so cute, but really they are not enough room for 3 chickens. If you add two more chicks to that, you are going to have a lot of trouble. I am betting that the coop said 6 chickens. But that is not true.

In order to have 5 chickens - you really need a coop with at least 20 sq ft. So the coop needs to be at leas 4 feet x 5 feet - just guessing, you have 3 ft x 4 ft? Bare minimum for 3 birds. The run, need to have 10 sq feet per bird, so 50 sq feet, 10 x 5, 4 x 12. These are rules of thumb, but in truth lack of space causes very, very ugly chicken behavior.

There is the tendency to think, well I can let them out into the yard for an hour or so a day. But they are not like puppies, where as if you go for a walk, they are fine.

There is also the idea of they just sleep and eat in the coop - but there are the long nights of winter, where mine roost up about 4:15 and don't get off until 7:00.

I don't want to rain on your parade, it is so fun and exciting to get chickens, but I think you have been sold a bill of goods as to your coop and set up that will lead to trouble.

Mr

 

[Mrs. K]

Good, so many new people come and get those cute coops, chicks are so little and they think it is going to work until the wreck.

 

[newchickmomma83]

Good, so many new people come and get those cute coops, chicks are so little and they think it is going to work until the wreck.

I completely understand that. We just moved so I finally have the opportunity to get some more animals I've always wanted haha. But I told my husband that because of timing people are gonna think we are just jumping on for eggs, but I do genuinely love animals and want what's best and trying to keep them as happy as possible

 

[2 Acres]

I just got 3 new chickens from a friend. I've had them 3 weeks and 2 of them have not started laying yet! I make sure they eat great with high protein and plenty of water and fresh bedding. Temperatures have warmed up and everyone else's chickens have been laying, why aren't mine yet? Surely they aren't still stressed?

Adding birds to a flock is a different dynamic.
Give it some time to let everyone get to know each other.