will my 2 hens stop laying if i get a new one

Date sort Score sort
frizzylizzy2003

frizzylizzy2003

Chirping
5 Years
Nov 30, 2014
103
8
68
okay so we've only had our chooks for 4-6 months and my mum said that i could get a new chicken
D.gif
(an easter egg layer) IF our other ones don't stop laying
fl.gif
so that's what i'm asking basically - also we've just come back from a 3 week holiay and we came back to broody chooks (when we left we had 3 and we came back to 2) so any ideas where our other one might have gone - we live in a bushy area and cannot find her our friends said when they came over earlier that day there were 3 but she went wondering off and i'm worried sick- so in the comments could u suggest where hens mostly wander off to thanks guys - also are "easter egg" layers good producers??? also we got 'em from a hatchery and we live in tasmania - australia

 
Last edited:
frizzylizzy2003 said:
okay so we've only had our chooks for 4-6 months and my mum said that i could get a new chicken
D.gif
(an easter egg layer) IF our other ones don't stop laying
fl.gif
so that's what i'm asking basically - also we've just come back from a 3 week holiay and we came back to broody chooks (when we left we had 3 and we came back to 2) so any ideas where our other one might have gone - we live in a bushy area and cannot find her our friends said when they came over earlier that day there were 3 but she went wondering off and i'm worried sick- so in the comments could u suggest where hens mostly wander off to thanks guys - also are "easter egg" layers good producers???
Click to expand...

Hi and welcome!
If your chooks were not in a secure enclosure in your absence, the most likely answer is that your third bird has been taken by a predator, not wandered off. If she was, indeed, broody she would have been settled on her broody spot and that lessens the likelyhood that she simply wandered away (unless she was in the early stages of broodiness and just choosing a spot in which to brood - in which case she *may* have found a new, hidden place in which to brood. IF she has sought a new brooding location you are going to be hard pressed to find her as those broodys are quite sneaky about finding a very hidden place (by design). You were gone for three weeks, how far into brooding her eggs was she? After three weeks, if the eggs she was on were fertile she'd be off raising chicks.
As to the effects of integrating a new bird into your flock - that is not something that can be predicted with certainty. Any time you have a disruption to the flock there is a chance it will effect production.
 
An additional thought on the disruption concern your mother has - if the two birds you have remaining are, indeed, broody they are already experiencing a disruption in production as a broody hen stops laying.
 
Welcome, it does sound like your loss is due to a predator. Make sure you protect the others. Good luck on getting the new one.
 
Hello there and welcome to BYC!
frow.gif


Ol Grey Mare X2 Either she was taken by a predator or she wandered off and is broody in some secret location. She may turn up with chicks at some point. All you can do is go looking for her and some signs of feathers that possibly she got eaten. When ever you leave your birds alone for extended periods of time, without being locked up, things do happen. I sure hope she turns up soon!!
 
Welcome to BYC!
frow.gif
We're glad to have you.

I'm sorry for the loss of your chicken! My first guess, unfortunately, would be that she got taken by a predator. Broodiness is also possible, however.

I've had one Easter Egger. Mine has been a good producer, though not quite as good as my Wyandottes.
 
thanks guys your help is greatly appreciated - and thanks for answering so quickly
hugs.gif
i have put my other 2 hens - broody- in cages so fingers crossed
fl.gif

it was most likely a predator - but my friend said that there were 3 earlier that day so we're giving it a few days
 

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom