Moving chickens to another house

MrsM · **Joined:** Fri Nov 11, 2011 11:51 am **Posts:** 163

Yesterday we got two chickens given to us by a lady who was moving and couldnt take them with her. I am sure that she told me that the chickens will probably not lay for up to a week, because they do that when they are moved (so she said). Is that true? One of the chickens is a daily, without-fail layer and the other lays once every second day. Hens and Hobbits asked if I have any dummy eggs to put in the nesting boxes to show them where to lay and I figured I would give it a week and see how they go - but now I am wondering how much truth there is in what their previous owner told me about them not laying for a bit after a move.

MrsM · **Joined:** Fri Nov 11, 2011 11:51 am **Posts:** 163

Ok so google is telling me yes, they will stop laying for a bit after they are moved. I probably should have googled that before posting, lol. I might see if I can find some plastic eggs just in case - can anyone recommend a good place to find them? So far it seems places like House/Matchbox are the places to look.

MrsM · **Joined:** Fri Nov 11, 2011 11:51 am **Posts:** 163

Ok nevermind, lol

I just went and checked the coop for the third time this morning and found an egg :D It was crushed (bugger) and the shell was a bit soft (previous owner did tell me that the "pretty" hen laid softer shelled eggs) so I am going to assume she accidentally crushed it. So, good news is that I dont need the dummy eggs. Will pick up some stuff for her today to up her calcium and see how that goes.

Edit: A search here reveals that a chook under stress/extreme heat can lay softer shelled eggs. So maybe the lay-every-day chook laid that egg but since they were moved yesterday (on a hot day) it could have been a stress thing. Will sit down to do a search before posting from now on, lol.

purefeather · **Joined:** Wed Sep 29, 2010 6:36 pm **Posts:** 736

Just a suggestion, but have you considered roll away nest boxes. If the soft shell persists despite what you feed her and you don't want to cull her that could be an option. Soft shells encourage egg eating.

MrsM · **Joined:** Fri Nov 11, 2011 11:51 am **Posts:** 163

I will wait and see if it is soft shells, or just a stress related soft shell thing that clears itself up once the chooks settle in. I did grab them some cuttlefish while I was out, just to give them something else to do. They seem relaxed, but then I wouldnt recognise a stress chook if I saw one. Hopefully its just a temporary thing. Previous owner didnt mention either of them eating eggs at any stage, which is good.

Petite Poulet · **Joined:** Thu Jun 09, 2011 7:17 pm **Posts:** 5219

Hi, MrsM,

Don't forget all that crushed baked egg shells you have stored as a calcium supplement!

Grated cheese and plain yoghurt(on a hot day as a treat, good bacteria for tummies) are great too if you have any spare for your chookies. NQR in is a good place to shop for these.

Good luck with Dorothy and Esmeralda.

OakA · **Posted:** Sun Dec 18, 2011 4:26 pm

The advice given you by the previous owner (obviously experienced)was as you found out correct.She/they could go off for a few days or a week, just be patient.
The egg laid today would have been 'in production' so to speak at the time of the move so could well be just an accident of circumstance, she will now go off for those few days to recover from the move.
Feed them a good balanced ration,household scraps and greens, shell grit if you feel it's warranted or use it as a nest material, they will eat it if needed and the eggs are always clean to collect and no lice harbouring in the straw or the like.
I worry about feeding egg shell to fowls, unless mixed in a mash and then you are throwing the nutricional balance out, just have shell grit available they know what they need better than us.
Enjoy the fowls and eat the yoghurt on your own breakfast.

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