A watched pot...

[MrsKris]

I have a small flock of 7 pullets and 6 cockerels. I think one of my 21 week old White Leghorns is getting ready to lay our first egg! I was letting them free range from around lunchtime til they went back to roost at dusk. I know 6 roos is a little serious, but so far so good... The one WL has gotten larger and redder through the face/wattles/comb and looks broader in the rear than her "sister" WL the same age. The boys have been giving her a little too much attention, so to make it easier on her I'm keeping her and the other pullets in the lot with only one of the more docile boys. I've noticed he is now trying to mate with one of my 18wk old EE girls! My ?s are: Is this a sign the EE may be getting ready to lay? Will the WL laying encourage the others to lay, kinda like women's cycles sync? (2WLs, 2 silkies and 1Black Australorp=21wks, 2 EEs=18wks) I'm so excited, my youngest son and I are keeping a watch in the coop! I've got 2 nesting boxes that are open with a fake egg in each. When will she drop that egg??!!!

 

[rjohns39]

You're probably two to three weeks out for the WLs. But some will go early. As for the cockerel, well.... He's just a teen aged boy.

 

[MrsKris]

You're probably two to three weeks out for the WLs. But some will go early. As for the cockerel, well.... He's just a teen aged boy.

Ugh! That long!!?? I hate to keep the girls penned up, not being able to run around and footage, but I don't want the boys tormenting her constantly!

 

[B Redhawk]

Why not cage the boys and let the hens do the free ranging? I agree with the two or three more weeks to first egg. The other option is to cull some of the cockerels to the freezer. The hens will come into egg laying faster if they are the ones able to roam around.

 

[The Moonshiner]

Question 2.. No one hen laying will not jumpstart others into laying. They start laying when they start laying.
Some will say a rooster will only breed a hen that is laying. As you see that isn't true. I don't believe breeding in influenced by the female and whether she is laying about to lay etc. I think when you have a rooster around that knows what hes doing then he will breed just about anything.
If you know anyone here that does the rooster flocks ask them what would happen if you threw a female any female in with them.
I raise leghorns and most don't all get the bigger combs and redden up at the same time so no worries about her sister. I've had pullets red up and then start laying fairly quickly but I've also had some hold out for a month or more after getting red.

 

[MrsKris]

Why not cage the boys and let the hens do the free ranging? I agree with the two or three more weeks to first egg.

We live in the sticks! Lol. We are pretty much surrounded by woods and haven't had any problems with predators so far. I'm afraid to leave my girls out all night cause I feel like the roos could take better care of themselves. I only have the one fully enclosed lot/coop. I'm not happy about leaving the boys out, but don't want my poor girl to be mated to death! (We also have a pretty good watch dog that I think keeps the critters away)

 

[MrsKris]

Question 2.. No one hen laying will not jumpstart others into laying. They start laying when they start laying.
Some will say a rooster will only breed a hen that is laying. As you see that isn't true. I don't believe breeding in influenced by the female and whether she is laying about to lay etc. I think when you have a rooster around that knows what hes doing then he will breed just about anything.
If you know anyone here that does the rooster flocks ask them what would happen if you threw a female any female in with them.
I raise leghorns and most don't all get the bigger combs and redden up at the same time so no worries about her sister. I've had pullets red up and then start laying fairly quickly but I've also had some hold out for a month or more after getting red.

The other WL has reddened up considerably in the last few weeks, but she is no where as large combed/wattled or red as the one I think is ready. The roos have started in on the "ready" one in the last week.

 

[MrsKris]

I read in another post about the "butt check". I think I may do that later this evening! I'm just sooo ready for an egg! I've been raising these spoiled things since early March, I'm ready for some repayment! LoL

 

[MrsKris]

Why not cage the boys and let the hens do the free ranging? I agree with the two or three more weeks to first egg. The other option is to cull some of the cockerels to the freezer. The hens will come into egg laying faster if they are the ones able to roam around.

Also, culling is out of the question! I'm too attached and so is my youngest son! I will rehome them if necessary or possibly build another pen/coop for them.

 

[rjohns39]

Why not cage the boys and let the hens do the free ranging? I agree with the two or three more weeks to first egg. The other option is to cull some of the cockerels to the freezer. The hens will come into egg laying faster if they are the ones able to roam around.

I agree with @B Redhawk that its better to coral the roos--but make sure they have plenty of space, otherwise you may loose some pre-maturely. Portable fencing might help in your situation until you're ready to cull the extra boys. I use this type of fence, if you don't have predators you probably don't need electric. https://www.premier1supplies.com/poultry/fencing.php?fence_id=30