Would putting a laying hen with my hens encourage them to grow

[Zac Hartley]

I have a few laying age hens that haven't started laying yet the have a good sized coop, plenty of water, clean nest boxes and on a good diet, was just wondering if putting in a laying hen or two would encourage my hens to lay

 

[Teila]

I have a few laying age hens that haven't started laying yet the have a good sized coop, plenty of water, clean nest boxes and on a good diet, was just wondering if putting in a laying hen or two would encourage my hens to lay

Hey Zac just my humble opinion but I think adding to the existing flock will just cause stress and possibly delay the laying process even further. Any change to an existing pecking order can be stressful .. actually, any change at all .. chickens dislike change

 

[Welshies]

Teila has a good point. What are you feeding your young birds? How many hours of daylight do you have? How old are your birds and what breed?

 

[Zac Hartley]

I was feeding them grower just recently changed over to layer, they have as much sun as the choose, I have austrolorps and commercial layers they are a bit over 6 months old now

 

[lissalischicks]

hi zac

Every bird has a different time frame. I know I was excited when my girl laid at 5 months but her sister took 8 months before she gave me an egg and I almost threw a party. She is one of my best layers now. I would be patient.

 

[Boonie Stomper]

Put fake "eggs" in nesting box can encourage new layers to do it in that location. Perhaps a mature hen could also be influential but pheromones aside would not likely alter the biological. IMO.

 

[sfgwife]

I was feeding them grower just recently changed over to layer, they have as much sun as the choose, I have austrolorps and commercial layers they are a bit over 6 months old now

If they arent layin layer feed is not good for their growin bodies. Also some birds bodies prefer higher protein than a layer. I get more eggs usin an all flock than layer with mine. If you do use an all flock or even layer make sure they also have access to oyster shell in a separate dish. Some birds need more calcium than the layer gives and with the all flock it has none. So oyster shell is very important when feedin that one. The birds will eat it as they need.

You may just not be gettin eggs yet because of the number of daylight hours they wont get in winter.

 

[Welshies]

You need about 18-20%. Provide maintenance feed or all flock feed. Oyster shell on the side. Laying feed for non laying birds can seriously delay devolpment and eggs.

 

[Boonie Stomper]

Hmmm... Seems thread is off track. Could a hen help another bird grow... IMO under certain circumstances perhaps.

Results such as more competition may encourage more wearing and / or more exercise?