Silkie hen stopped laying eggs

[Clrflowers]

Hello all, I am new to this and have a question, my one hen just hatched an egg. I expected her not to lay new ones, but the other hen (I only have two, plus the rooster and now the little) was laying eggs near the brooding chicken until the baby hatched, now she's stopped laying altogether since the hatching. The black hen (all are silkies) that incubated the eggs is caring for the chick But the buff silky isn't laying? . Is this normal? Will she start up again? And how soon till the momma hen starts laying again? Thanks so much. And just cause they're so cute here's a pic of my black silkie and her chick.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

It is anybody's guess why the one stopped laying. They do that from time to time.
What are you feeding the whole flock? Starter feed?
The one with the chick may resume laying in 6-8 weeks.
The moral of the story is that if you want eggs, don't keep silkies.
Or any other notoriously broody breed for that matter.

 

[Clrflowers]

Im a novice who inherited them. I've had them since May and have gotten about a dozen eggs a week between the two of them pretty consistently which is plenty for me, but thanks for the info, I was worried something was wrong with her. And now that I've learned some things on here I'd like to try another hatching, dont have money to buy fertilized eggs or chicks, but willing to forego my breakfast eggs for a while if I can increase my lil chicken family naturally. Thanks again for responding.

It is anybody's guess why the one stopped laying. They do that from time to time.
What are you feeding the whole flock? Starter feed?
The one with the chick may resume laying in 6-8 weeks.
The moral of the story is that if you want eggs, don't keep silkies.
Or any other notoriously broody breed for that matter.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Your numbers will grow.
What are you feeding?
I'm just checking on you since you said you are a novice. Since you don't have any layers, you can't be feeding layer feed. Even if you had layers, the chick can't eat it and the rooster shouldn't.

 

[Clrflowers]

Your numbers will grow.
What are you feeding?
I'm just checking on you since you said you are a novice. Since you don't have any layers, you can't be feeding layer feed. Even if you had layers, the chick can't eat it and the rooster shouldn't.

Oh sorry didnt answer that part, all on starter. I cant feed them separately, all in one coop with a small chicken run I let them out only when I'm there, we have hawks, dogs next door and spaces in the fence chickens could get out. Will build more secure space for them as I can but for now they all eat the same thing. Rooster has been eating layer crumbles same as the two hens since I got them along with scratch, that's what they came with so that's what I fed them. What should the rooster eat? Oh they also love veggie and fruit and worms.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

That's cool. A lot of people don't know this and a lot of those who do, ignore it.
Layer feed is about 4% calcium and all other feeds are about 1%. Layer is for birds actively building egg shells, known as layers.
Some people feed layer to all their birds even with roosters. They claim they never had a problem. However, when a bird suddenly dies, they don't have a necropsy to determine why the bird died.
Roosters, chicks, pullets yet to reach POL, brooding hens, molting hens, retired hens are not layers. 4% is excessive for them.
So what most people in your situation do is feed a starter, grower or all flock feed and provide a separate dish with oyster shell for the birds laying eggs. You can add dried, crushed egg shells if you have them. Both are made of calcium carbonate. Oyster shell is more effective because it is larger particle which for active layers hits the calcium absorption sites in the small intestine when the egg is in the shell gland (uterus).
Since you have chicks, stick with starter feed because the small particle size is easier for them to eat. The higher protein of the starter may kick start ovulation when laying has been slow.
A lot of people on this site, never feed layer feed.
It is really for an entire layer flock of productive breeds.

 

[Clrflowers]

Thanks @ChickenCanoe great info