Rescued hens... when might they start laying?

[Mehpenn]

Honestly, I'm not expecting the one with the congestion and coughing to lay. She's not doing any worse, but she's not doing any better. Still active, eating and drinking like normal, but still sounds congested and I'm still hearing her cough.

The other hen appears to be healthy, though a bit underweight, as a result of neglect. She's eating well now, and is active.

I know they're stressed, they've only been with me since Saturday, and I'm not surprised that they haven't laid.

Just curious as to when they may start laying? It's not a big deal, just curious.

 

[mnferalkitty]

Does the one who is coughing etc. have a disease? I didn't think chickens got colds only respitatory diseases that can be passed to other chickens, or am I wrong about that?

 

[Mehpenn]

I was told she could have pneumonia, in which case she would continue to worsen, or she could just have an upper respiratory issue that may never go away.
I've had her three days and she's acting like a normal hen, you'd never know she had the issue unless you got close enough to hear the congestion and the cough.

 

[Mehpenn]

Well, dang it man.
I didn't get any eggs today, not even one from the hen I can count on laying just about every day.

=(

I finally decided put my original hen back in the lot today, with the two new ones. I figure they need to get to know each other, and it's been five days. The black hen still has the congestion sound, but the RIR isn't showing any symptoms, so I'm beginning to think it's just something she'll have, and it's not contagious.
So, now I've got the NHR in with them. She didn't lay today in her normal spot outside of the lot, and adding her in with the other's, I don't really expect any eggs over the next couple of days.

I must say though, that I'm really bummed the new RIR hasn't laid. I was told they were both laying when I picked them up. And like I said before, I don't expect the black one to lay, but I'm bummed that the RIR isn't.

I'm going to have to break down and buy some eggs from the grocery store, I reckon. Dang it, I'm spoiled on my fresh eggs... just don't care of the flavorless store bought eggs any more.