Why have my chickens stoped laying eggs?

Question

I did have six chickens that I got from a battery farm in January I then got four more about two weeks ago I know the new ones will stop laying for a bit as they have had a change do you know if getting the new ones will put the old ones off if so how long for do chickens stop laying the day they die or before

Answer 1

Chickens don't stop laying unless sick or old around  3 years for age wise.The chickens you got from this farm are confused since they are use to being caged all the time right now they have to get use to the freedom you have given them, plus there bodies may be sore and stiff (bones, legs, skin. wings.) Give the hens  some time to adjust to this freedom they will lay again unless the farm sold you non layers and this does happen.No the new chickens will not change the old once a chicken starts to lay she will every day till weather changes and the new wont effect this a bit. The new may not lay in nest since they never had a nest to start with in the first place so maybe keep an eye out for eggs in or around pen or yard if you have free rome in and around yard ( they will be free rome right)??Most chickens slow down or stop around 3 years  of age or until a wild critter wants for dinner.Most will stop before their death unless killed by a critter.

Answer 2

Hi there,

Nothing to worry about at all, they just need a bit of time to get used to one another. I've found that if I introduce just a couple of new ones at a time [I maintain a small flock of about 8 normally and only introduce 2 new ones at any one time] it causes a little less disruption to their egglaying and they all start laying again after 2-3 weeks.

When I've introduced more in the past [say 4 new ones to the existing 8] it has taken the "originals" much longer to settle back down again as I think they feel a bit threatened and also there is always a little conflict as the birds try and sort out the pecking order again so that each knows their place. This can be stressful for both the originals and the newbies. Mine then take about a month to settle back into their laying routine.

My recommendation would be to only introduce a couple of new ones at any one time so as not to cause too much disruption.

Last year I put in 2 white leghorns in with my then flock of eight, the originals continued to lay fairly well throughout and the newbies started laying within a week....mind you that is the only time that has ever happened.

At the moment mine have stopped laying altogether for some strange reason and I've had no eggs for three weeks....but...this sometimes happens as well.

So glad to hear that you are "adopting" a few battery hens....they make lovely pet hens after having had a terrible experience....my ones are not the prettiest of hens but definitely watching them change from scared little tatty critters into glossy feathered fat hens that scratch and peck and flap about is brilliant!

Good luck

Lisa-Dawn