[peachesandclive]

Hello,

We have recently acquired 3 chickens for our back garden - two of which are only about 10 weeks old and an older hen (the farmer wasn't exactly sure but said she was somewhere between 1 and 2 years).

So anyway, they have free range of the garden and have access to unlimited layer pellets...so why isn't the older hen laying? We've had them for almost 3 weeks but not a sausage. Obviously the younger ones have yet to come of age, but is there any reason why the other one is holding out on us? She seems perky and happy and her wattle is bright red.

The one observation we've made is that she mothers the younger ones a bit - and she lets them barge her out of the way if there are titbits to be had.

Any advice/ideas would be welcomed!

[Wildeone]

dejavu !?!?!?!?!?

I'm sure we've had this question before. (sorry not from you)

I'm going to have a look and see what the answers were.

BRB  

[peachesandclive]

I did check first, honest! I didn't find anything obvious. :roll:

[Foxy]

was the older hen the broody for the youngsters? If thats the case she will be off lay due to her mothering instincts although normally they start ignoring the youngsters from 6 - 8weeks. It does sound like is mothering the youngsters by allowing them to feed before she does.

[Wildeone]

I did check first, honest! I didn't find anything obvious. :roll:

Don't worry i was just wondering if i could pull up the pearls of wisdom that came forward that time!  But i can't find it :? But Foxy sounds spot on.  Also she might be older than 2 and not laying anymore.

[Foxy]

But Foxy sounds spot on.  Also she might be older than 2 and not laying anymore.

I am older than two - as as far as I know have never laid an egg....      

[Aunt Sally]

Or she could be laying away.

[Wildeone]

But Foxy sounds spot on.  Also she might be older than 2 and not laying anymore.

I am older than two - as as far as I know have never laid an egg....      

 :oops: Oops sorry foxy!

[peachesandclive]

My patience ran out.

Fortunately for me, the farmer who provided my chooks in the first place was quite happy to swap her.

My family couldn't believe that I could just take our new friend back, but my argument is that the whole point of getting them was for the eggs, and she was just going back to her own flock at the farm.

Anyway, the farmer had kept her eye on some hens for me and was able to identify one as a layer so I came home with an almost identical hen to the original.

Within hours we had our first egg and we've had one a day since. Hurrah!

The farmer had no explanation for the non-laying of the first hen and could only put it down to the change in environment - she was adamant it wasn't an issue with her age.