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Not laying but calling in the mornings

post #1 of 15
Thread Starter 
I have a pair of Barred Rock hens (I'm pretty sure), Lucy and Ethel. Ethel is the top girl and has decided to get really excited at around 6 am and loudly announce her presence to the neighbourhood. They're about 5 months old but still haven't laid any eggs. Their combs and wattles are small and very red. I keep them in the coop until about 8 but Ethel still sings her little heart out at 6. I pick her up every day to maybe convince her that I'm the top girl, but I don't think it's working. Help?
post #2 of 15

She may just be becoming the "rooster". Since you only have pullets your dominate hen is taking charge of everything. She might just be "crowing" in the morning. That is my guess.

LF brahmas in Buff and Light

Coming soon: Wheaten Ameraucanas

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LF brahmas in Buff and Light

Coming soon: Wheaten Ameraucanas

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post #3 of 15
Thread Starter 
Is there a way to get her to stop?
post #4 of 15

I haven't had this problem but my best guess would be to add a rooster.

LF brahmas in Buff and Light

Coming soon: Wheaten Ameraucanas

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LF brahmas in Buff and Light

Coming soon: Wheaten Ameraucanas

Reply
post #5 of 15

I betcha she lays an egg soon.  If it sounds like bok bok bok bok BAGAWWWWK - that's the egg song.  They become very vocal right when they are getting ready to lay.

 

There's not much you can do to get her to stop.  You could open the pop door earlier and take out treats, but I never found this worked.  In fact, my sex link trained me to bring her treats - didn't take her long to figure it out!

Breeding Welsummers and Barnevelders.

 

Having an Icelandic in the coop is like having a 2 year old in the house - they are into everything and don't follow the rules.

I have zero chicken willpower.

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Breeding Welsummers and Barnevelders.

 

Having an Icelandic in the coop is like having a 2 year old in the house - they are into everything and don't follow the rules.

I have zero chicken willpower.

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post #6 of 15
Thread Starter 
Excellent. Or perhaps "egg-cellent"?
post #7 of 15
Thread Starter 
They've been "crowing" like this for three weeks, and not one single egg has been laid.
post #8 of 15

does it sound like:

 

brrrrrrraaaaaawwwwwkkkkkk brrrrrrraaaaaawwwwwkkkkkk brrrrrrraaaaaawwwwwkkkkkk

 

or:

 

 buk buk buk buk buk baGAWK  buk buk buk buk buk baGAWK  buk buk buk buk buk baGAWK

 

or a very rough & gravely almost rooster crow sound "err err, err err, roooo"

 

 

Mine does the 1st sound in the morning, low and growl-like but can be loud... for our family it means "I'm up & I want to come out to peck in the lawn!"

 

The second sound for our family is a warning sound - like there is a cat staring at them from the fence line or deer near them in the woods.

 

I had a hen that made the 3rd sound, she was trying to be "the rooster" and that was her female version of crowing. Rehomed her when she made that sound 5x in a row at the crack of dawn.

 

good luck

My Member Page has photos of how we started ~ Does yours?
Visit our Hen House & read my introducing chickens page too.

 

2013 Update! There has been a shift in the pecking order...
I'm so egg-cited! Have an egg-cellent day!

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My Member Page has photos of how we started ~ Does yours?
Visit our Hen House & read my introducing chickens page too.

 

2013 Update! There has been a shift in the pecking order...
I'm so egg-cited! Have an egg-cellent day!

Reply
post #9 of 15

Hi!  I have a Lucy and Ethel team of chickens too!  They are cuckoo marans.....19 weeks old, no eggs YET!  Soon, I hope!  ~Beulah

2 RIR's----Klara and Addie

2 CuckooMaran's----Lucy and Ethel

 

IN ALL DIRECTIONS...

Looking Back----Praise Him

Looking Ahead----Trust Him

Looking Around---Serve Him

Looking Up-------Expect Him!

 

 

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2 RIR's----Klara and Addie

2 CuckooMaran's----Lucy and Ethel

 

IN ALL DIRECTIONS...

Looking Back----Praise Him

Looking Ahead----Trust Him

Looking Around---Serve Him

Looking Up-------Expect Him!

 

 

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post #10 of 15
Thread Starter 
It sounds mostly like the first one.
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