The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: WarescotFarm on July 10, 2012, 09:53:51 pm

Title: How long until they lay again
Post by: WarescotFarm on July 10, 2012, 09:53:51 pm

My hens have been broody for 8 weeks, finally they hatched some chicks (eaten over the weekend) and now they are up and about again and not broody - HURRAY!
How long till they lay, 2 out of 3 layers not working has been a real pain!

Title: Re: How long until they lay again
Post by: chrismahon on July 11, 2012, 07:42:32 pm

At least two weeks WarescotFarm, sometimes three or more. This is the reason people break broodies as fast as possible. It takes a lot out of the hens as well. We've put ours daytime only in a large cage with a 12mm mesh bottom standing on logs. Most one has done is 2 weeks, several only lasted one or two days. Clip-on feeder and drinker then nest boxes blocked at night so she has to sleep on the floor or a perch. We have stopped leaving them out overnight when one died earlier in the year.