Rock Barr behavior normal?

[Twoleggedmotherhen]

Our Rock Barr (Lily) hasn't laid an egg for a week now. History of the past couple of weeks: we got 2 Golden Comet Chicks (4 weeks old) on Father's Day. The EE (Dahlia) and Lily made nests by the divider. Did a little fence pecking for a few days, then Dahlia ignored lays eggs as normal. Lily hasn't laid an egg for 6 days now. She is eating & drinking normal. Poop is normal. Checked to see if I could feel eggs, nothing. Comb, waddles red, not pale, legs are yellow, not pale either.
I am thinking she is acting like a mother hen to Henny & Penny. Neighbor came over to see the chicks and it sounded like she was growling at him. Had him step back a couple if steps, she stopped but kept eye contact. Could this be why she is not laying? How long does a hen stop laying if they have chicks or think they have chicks? Here is a picture of her laying by the divider.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I have had hens adopt older chicks, or at least try. Every hen is different so I can't really say when she will return to laying. If it's just from the disturbance of adding the chicks than a few weeks generally. If she thinks she's a mother it could be a few months.

 

[janiedoe]

Hormones? They do crazy things to females.

 

[Twoleggedmotherhen]

Hormones? They do crazy things to females.

Oh no not a PMS Hen She is the head hen, but with me she squats, spreads her wings. She definitely didn't like the squawks from Henny & Penny when I clipped a wing on each. Penny played Chicken Run on me last night, flew out of top of their coop when I opened it to put Henny in. Luckily the area is fenced. She went over to their coop flew up (28 inches) to top of their coop. Got her and put her back in. Told hubby have to clip their wing, can't have Chicken Run sequel.

 

[aart]

She definitely didn't like the squawks from Henny & Penny when I clipped a wing on each.

Be very careful clipping wings on young birds, if feathers aren't complete grown out and you hit the blood filled shaft you'll need to fully pluck that feather out to stop the bleeding.
Actually, just don't do it.
At 4 weeks that is just the first of 3 sets of feathers they will grow by 6 months old.

The chick addition may have triggered the Barred Rocks broody hormones.
Does she sleep there next to the chicks?
What are your plans for integration?

 

[Twoleggedmotherhen]

I have had hens adopt older chicks, or at least try. Every hen is different so I can't really say when she will return to laying. If it's just from the disturbance of adding the chicks than a few weeks generally. If she thinks she's a mother it could be a few months.

Thank You. Wasn't for sure but that does make sense.

 

[Twoleggedmotherhen]

Be very careful clipping wings on young birds, if feathers aren't complete grown out and you hit the blood filled shaft you'll need to fully pluck that feather out to stop the bleeding.
Actually, just don't do it.
At 4 weeks that is just the first of 3 sets of feathers they will grow by 6 months old.

The chick addition may have triggered the Barred Rocks broody hormones.
Does she sleep there next to the chicks?
What are your plans for integration?

Normally I wouldn't clip wings on the chickens, but am comfortable in doing it. This will more likely be the only clipping they got. Clip wing on inside birds for over 20 years.
She doesn't sleep next to the fence, she does go into the roost to sleep. Chicks want to go in with them. They stand at the fence that is close to their door and chrip. They go into their coop when I open their door on the fence to do the nightly cleaning, water change and add feed as needed. In the morning Lily is standing by the fence waiting for me to open the chicks door to let them out.
My integration plan is when they are about 16-18 weeks or close to the same size as the EE and Rock Barr. Will have a couple of feeders & waterers, and make a couple hiding places that will have escapes at both ends. Will stay outside the run keeping an eye on them, which I can do since I am home all the time. Let them work it out, won't interfer unless I see injury happening. Can back them off with the water hose if needed.

 

[Twoleggedmotherhen]

Lily (Rock Barr) laid an egg today! Thin shelled. But at least she laid. They do have a bowl of calcium available after seeing the thin shell I threw a couple of handfuls in the run. She ate some off the ground.

 

[Peppercorngal]

Lily (Rock Barr) laid an egg today! Thin shelled. But at least she laid. They do have a bowl of calcium available after seeing the thin shell I threw a couple of handfuls in the run. She ate some off the ground.

Good news, she is laying again! And by the way she is a "barred rock". This means she is a "Plymouth Rock" breed with the coloring called "barred". They can be black, white, and other colors as well. Good luck with her, she is a beauty!

 

[Twoleggedmotherhen]

Good news, she is laying again! And by the way she is a "barred rock". This means she is a "Plymouth Rock" breed with the coloring called "barred". They can be black, white, and other colors as well. Good luck with her, she is a beauty!

Thank You. Seems like I always get it switch around lol