Rehomed hens - sporadic laying

[samantha1242]

We took in three hens june 12th and only one hen has started laying an egg every 1-2 days. The other two have produced one in that timeframe. I anticipated it taking awhile for them to adjust so happy to be getting some already, but just confused on the inconsistency. They are all around 1-2 years old. Do I just need more patience?

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

What breeds are they? It can take chickens a few weeks to adapt to big changes so I would give them some time

 

[3KillerBs]

Chickens hate change and it often disrupts their laying cycle. It could even throw them into a molt.

How much do you trust the seller to have told you an accurate age?

 

[samantha1242]

What breeds are they? It can take chickens a few weeks to adapt to big changes so I would give them some time

Easter egger (laying every 1-2 days) and then two isla browns that we have had one egg from.

 

[samantha1242]

Chickens hate change and it often disrupts their laying cycle. It could even throw them into a molt.

How much do you trust the seller to have told you an accurate age?

They were a free rehome but feel as though the owner was honest as the chickens were their cared for pets.

 

[3KillerBs]

They were a free rehome but feel as though the owner was honest as the chickens were their cared for pets.

Just asking because it would be normal for older hens to lay only a few times a week.

 

[samantha1242]

Just asking because it would be normal for older hens to lay only a few times a week.

What age would this be around? Just curious!

 

[SourRoses]

It sounds totally normal to me. The on/off again can be from different stressors in their new environment that don't happen every day.
I got four 2yr old hens a few months ago. One kept laying throughout, two were really spotty about it, and the fourth took 3 weeks to start laying again, which coincided with when they finally got truly comfortable in their new space. As long as a hen lays 3 a week I still consider her productive, but that may just be me.

 

[3KillerBs]

IIRC, starting after their first molt they lay fewer but larger eggs. Then production continues to drop after the second molt.

Some of it depends on how good a layer the bird was in the first place.