how long before a hen starts to lay again, after she stops taking care of a brood? MY egg production has dropped to almost ZERO !! ! one egg a day isnt enough, so, wondering when the "moms" will start back up?

-- Stan (sopal@net-pert.com), October 19, 2002

Answers

How long since she quit taking care of the chicks? It could be due to the cold weather. If she's just getting finished with the chick care and now it's cold she may not start for a while. Also with the cold weather the girls aren't getting any more bugs,worms or other high protein goodies. My friend is having the same problem as you but my chickens are still laying faithfully which I think is due to mine being free range and there's still bugs & grubs out in KY. If you want you could put a heat light in the coop-it serves two purposes heat & the light she needs for egg production. I use a red infrared bulb since I read years ago that the white ones can cause eye problems. The light should only be on for 12-14 hrs a day so their cycle won't get screwed up. I use it in the evening/night when I need heat, not until Dec/Jan for me. Hope this helps.

-- Kathy (beckoningwinds@yahoo.com), October 19, 2002.

When I have a hen that I want to continue laying even when they are sitting on eggs , I bring them food and water to their nest. When chickens sit on eggs they fast or eat very little. This slows down or stops egg production. By bringing food to their nest it encourages them to eat. When they hatch their eggs ,I still continue to feed them treats like left over rice beans and meat ,I feed them this after they are full on grains,to get them to eat more than they normally would. Leaving on a light at night will encourage them to eat more than they normally would. I've had hen laying again while their chicks were still young , using the force feed method.

Feeding hens that are sitting on their nest ,may increase the body temperture of the hen , and this may make more roosters hatch from the eggs than hens chicks.

After a visit from some high dollar hunting dogs I only have one hen left.Anyone have a recipe for cooking dog ?

-- Steve (unreal@home.com), October 20, 2002.

I hand fed the hens wile they were sitting, water also. But have never seen a hen continue to lay once it went broody. I have put the light out there,, and am insulating as I go ( as time and materials allow ),,, but with my low egg production,,, was just wondering when the "moms" would get back to it

-- Stan (sopal@net-pert.com), October 20, 2002.