Why won't my new hen lay?

[newhenmom99]

I picked up a 9 mo old red star hen about 10 days ago (our first). We were told she was laying daily, though I don't know how the breeder could tell because she had many chickens. At any rate, she has yet to lay a single egg since we got her. She's very active and healthy appearing, though she's missing a portion of her upper beak. Her appetite is great, we're giving her organic layer feed and eggshells. Her run is about 6x40 ft with lots of foliage, but I haven't seen any eggs out there. Our coop is small so the next box is outside and I've never seen her go in there.

I was chalking it all up to the change of environment until we brought home an australorp and she laid an egg her first day home. So I'm stumped- is she too young still?

 

[Mtn Cur]

I'm no expert but I would say shes not too young. Also would agree the move may have stressed with the new conditions. I would be patient and look closely in the run, she may be laying elsewhere besides the nest box- this may have been a habit from her prior home. Or she could possibly be a egg eater hince the reason she was up for sale or free. The owner may have just told half the story, ya she may lay a egg a day but that could be in her diet as well. Food for thought and good luck.

 

[KellyHM]

Most chickens will stop laying for a month or so when they're moved to a new place. Your Austrolorp probably still had an egg in the making, but don't be surprised if she also stops laying for a little while.

 

[chicmom]

Hello there!

Don't worry! At first, a new hen sometimes has to get used to her environment before she will lay an egg. Chickens are creatures of habit, and it can even take as long as a month for a hen to relax enough to lay that egg. It would be a really good idea for you to put that nesting box inside the coop. Chickens like a very quiet, out of the way place to lay their eggs.

As another member mentioned, sometimes they will lay at first, then stop for a while. This is because they will lay any eggs there were in their system before they were moved....then they're stressed, so you'll have a delay for a while.

Good luck and let us know how things go for you!
Sharon

 

[newhenmom99]

Thanks for your thoughts, I am reassured. The australorp is still laying but she prefers the floor of our coop. I think getting the next box inside will be the key. We'll just be patient with our Red Star girl.

 

[chikalady]

My hens did the same thing when I got them. It took 2 1/2 to 3 weeks before they laid the first egg.

 

[paulandashia]

I just posted this in another thread, but Try this: (it worked for me!)

Cook about 2 cups of rice (2 cups when cooked).
To that, add 1 tea-spoon of Cayenne Pepper, and 1 table-spoon of Tabasco Sauce.
Then Mix well.
Serve 1 cup WARM in the morning, and again in the evening for 3 days.

My girls were laying on the 2nd day!

Sometimes they just need something to clean/re-start their systems.

Good Luck!

 

[HennyPenny2]

Quote:
I was just wondering where you got this from? I may try it. How does it or why should I say would that get them to start laying again? Thanks

 

[rcentner]

I hate to put a damper on everyones advice, but whenever I have moved in new hens they usually lay within the 1st week. I just got 2 BR hens last month and they were laying 2 days after the move. they were not stressed at all, they waltzed into the coop like they owned it already. I also only had a few chickens at that point. I wonder if the hen is younger than she thought, if you can handle her, you can check her pelvic bones and feel if they are far enough apart for an egg to pass through. If they feel close together then she is likely younger. good luck

 

[vachicks]

I was wondering why mine aren't laying..I have 4 RIR's who are at least 5 months old, it has been two weeks since we moved them, 3 have real red combs one is still light, I let them free range for an hour or so a day, they have nice dark laying boxes 2 for the 4 of them. I was hoping to have eggs by now. They are eating layer crumbles, I feed egg shells and oyster calcium each day - different one each day. I also think they are vegetarians! at first they ate the worms and slugs I gave them now they look at them and walk away, I got some crickets yesterday and they looked at them and messed with them some then left them alone, altho they did eat some after a few minutes... but move the pen over some new grass and they go crazy! I was hoping to have some help with the flies, these girls don't even bother with the flies.