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New roo with my hens has changed their laying habits

post #1 of 6
6/16/12 at 3:00pm
Thread Starter 

Today is the 4th day my hens have been with Mr. Roo. He's 4yo and kind so far. I have them in a chicken tractor. When I let them out late morning, there's only 1 egg instead of 5 in the nest. They have access to their tractor all day; I prop the door open for them. So, is it normal for them to stop laying for a few days when a roo comes to visit? I did look around the yard but didn't find any hiding eggs.

Married to amazing man, mama to 5 children, owner of:  2 English Springer Spaniels, 5 leghorn hens, 6 astrolorps, 2 RIR hens, 2 Plymouth Rock hens, 2 barnyard mix hens, 1 white silky roo, 5 buff orphingtons, 11 A&M coturnix, and 60 bobs.

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Married to amazing man, mama to 5 children, owner of:  2 English Springer Spaniels, 5 leghorn hens, 6 astrolorps, 2 RIR hens, 2 Plymouth Rock hens, 2 barnyard mix hens, 1 white silky roo, 5 buff orphingtons, 11 A&M coturnix, and 60 bobs.

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post #2 of 6
6/16/12 at 3:11pm

Possibilities many.  Natural variation.  Weather.  Food related.  Stress associated new rooster.  Also possible the old guy is an egg eater.

Make every effort to understand your chicken's biology and the environment that supports it.
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Make every effort to understand your chicken's biology and the environment that supports it.
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post #3 of 6
6/16/12 at 5:50pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by centrarchid View Post

Possibilities many.  Natural variation.  Weather.  Food related.  Stress associated new rooster.  Also possible the old guy is an egg eater.

Oooooh, an egg eater. I'll have to watch for that. That would probably make him soup. 

 

I did get one egg that was sticky. Makes me wonder.

Married to amazing man, mama to 5 children, owner of:  2 English Springer Spaniels, 5 leghorn hens, 6 astrolorps, 2 RIR hens, 2 Plymouth Rock hens, 2 barnyard mix hens, 1 white silky roo, 5 buff orphingtons, 11 A&M coturnix, and 60 bobs.

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Married to amazing man, mama to 5 children, owner of:  2 English Springer Spaniels, 5 leghorn hens, 6 astrolorps, 2 RIR hens, 2 Plymouth Rock hens, 2 barnyard mix hens, 1 white silky roo, 5 buff orphingtons, 11 A&M coturnix, and 60 bobs.

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post #4 of 6
6/16/12 at 6:00pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by QChickieMama View Post

Oooooh, an egg eater. I'll have to watch for that. That would probably make him soup. 

 

I did get one egg that was sticky. Makes me wonder.

 In you situation, an egg eater may not be a major cause of alarm.  If he is in fact eating eggs, there maybe a reason that stops shortly.  He is eating something that would keep hens from raising his offspring.  See if eggs start to collect again after a few more days.  Your flock is small enough that more natural interactions may play themselves out like the would in natural harems.

Make every effort to understand your chicken's biology and the environment that supports it.
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Make every effort to understand your chicken's biology and the environment that supports it.
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post #5 of 6
6/16/12 at 6:36pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by centrarchid View Post

 In you situation, an egg eater may not be a major cause of alarm.  If he is in fact eating eggs, there maybe a reason that stops shortly.  He is eating something that would keep hens from raising his offspring.  See if eggs start to collect again after a few more days.  Your flock is small enough that more natural interactions may play themselves out like the would in natural harems.

I'l try tol be patient. I want to start collecting eggs as soon as they're fertile. Hoping to get a good # together for incubating before the neighbor complains about the roo. I only have the roo with 5 hens right now. That's a good ratio, right? They all seem happy together.

Married to amazing man, mama to 5 children, owner of:  2 English Springer Spaniels, 5 leghorn hens, 6 astrolorps, 2 RIR hens, 2 Plymouth Rock hens, 2 barnyard mix hens, 1 white silky roo, 5 buff orphingtons, 11 A&M coturnix, and 60 bobs.

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Married to amazing man, mama to 5 children, owner of:  2 English Springer Spaniels, 5 leghorn hens, 6 astrolorps, 2 RIR hens, 2 Plymouth Rock hens, 2 barnyard mix hens, 1 white silky roo, 5 buff orphingtons, 11 A&M coturnix, and 60 bobs.

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post #6 of 6
6/16/12 at 6:39pm
Any sort of stress, like a new rooster, will disrupt the egg laying pattern for a bit. Just be patient. If he's truly the great guy you say, they'll settle back in a week or so with laying like before. If he's a jerk to them, they might not.

== Easy incubator wiring chart: http://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=65925 Installing a thermostat: http://cmfarm.us/WHTincubator.html
Love those Orps!

I don't care why the chicken crossed the road, as long as mine don't!

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== Easy incubator wiring chart: http://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=65925 Installing a thermostat: http://cmfarm.us/WHTincubator.html
Love those Orps!

I don't care why the chicken crossed the road, as long as mine don't!

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