Why aren't my hens laying?

[rich0790]

I bought 3 hens from a man almost a month ago. He told me that they were 1 year old. He sold them because he had too many hens in his coop and they were being mean to each other, they had no feathers on their necks and bums from the pecking. Since I have had them their feathers have mostly grown back. They free range an hour or two every night and I feed them a mixture of pellets (which the man had fed them) and pullet feed since I have 14 week old pullets in the same run. The white leghorn lays daily but I rarely get eggs from the sexlink and the Rhode Island Red and when I do they are usually "wind" eggs. What am I doing wrong? I am new to raising chickens (as in only had them 1 1/2 months) so I could use any helpful advice you might have for me! Thanks!

 

[Fred's Hens]

I doubt you're doing much wrong. Sometimes people sell birds they know very well are aged or imperfect. It is quite possible that this may be the reason he sold them. I hate to even mention this, but since you asked, well..... there it is. He may well have gotten rid of his problems and passed them on to you. A month is enough time for them to have settled in.

When bringing in birds, it is best to dust them for mites/lice with a follow up in 8 days. Worming them might be in order as well. Good 16-18% protein Layer and fresh water. The rest is up to them, really. Here's to hoping they turn around for you.