How long after brooding chicks does it take for a hen to return to laying eggs? My chicks are 2+ weeks old and I haven't been able to find any information in books or on the net. Thanks in advance.

-- marilyn (rainbow@ktis.net), May 25, 2000

Answers

look up a few lines ( about 15) under hens with chick . alot of good info.

-- renee oneill (oneillsr@home.com), May 25, 2000.

Marilyn: Our chicks are 4&1/2 weeks old, and the hen isn't laying again yet. In an earlier thread, I think someone said 8-12 weeks? I think it probably takes their system a while to get back into gear, as they don't eat or drink much while setting, so it seems reasonable that they would need to replenish themselves first. Jan

-- Jan B (Janice12@aol.com), May 26, 2000.

I've said this before under a similar thread, but the Mama will decide that the chicks are big enough to handle life on their own after a while. In my experience, when they are about 6 to 8 weeks old. Soon thereafter, she will begin laying again. GL!

-- Brad (homefixer@SacoRiver.net), May 27, 2000.