when could hen lay again after raising chicks?

[Chickie'sMoma]

i am just curious how soon broody hens could start laying after hatching out a group of eggs? i have 2 broody hens with chicks that have hatched the last couple of weeks and i am wondering if i should remove them after a few more weeks to get them back to laying again.

how long will a broody keep watching over her chicks and will she keep watching over them and still lay eggs?

 

[KellyHM]

Most broodies start back after 2-3 months. Most of mine will still lay if the chicks are with them...they just don't pay as close attention to the chicks.

 

[lauralou]

When my hens are raising chicks during spring and summer, they don't tend to stay with the chicks very long. Usually about a month. Then they start laying again and completely lose interest in the chicks.

This year I had 3 hens hatch eggs in September, and they kept those chicks forever! Like 12 weeks, or more. I think it was because those particular hens aren't good winter layers anyway, so there was no urge to wean the chicks and start laying eggs.

It seems to me that your hens will wean the chicks at the time when it is natural for them to start laying eggs. It's not likely that they will continue to care for the chicks after they start laying. And it's not likely that they will start laying while the chicks still need to be cared for.

 

[InsaneBreeder]

Mine got tired of her chicks after a little under a month and started laying soon after.

 

[spamee34]

I have a friend who has game hens and last summer she had two hens brood and hatch their eggs. These hens did not lay all summer they tended to those chicks forever and had no interest in laying again. They are just now laying again within the last week.

 

[Chickie'sMoma]

thank you for the help with this. i think my 2 ladies will be very dedicated to their babies for a little longer than a month at this point. i just tried to take the chicks away for a little time and both mommas did not like it even though the chicks seemed to have gotten over it after about 10 minutes of separation.