Bad Rooster? Not sure.

[Carlos F]

I got my rooster earlier this year and Id like to ask get some advice before I think about getting rid of him. He seems to be trying to get his hens to lay in other places other than the coop like the barn, the backseat of my side by side etc. I already found some eggs in the barn. How do I get him to stop this behavior? My coop is 4 x 6 with 6 nest boxes. I have 7 hens along with the rooster, so I don't think its over crowding

 

[BrennaM]

Sometimes the roosters will try to show the hens new 'safe' places to lay. You could lock them up until they start laying in the boxes. The recommended amount of space is 4 square foot per bird, so your coop is good for 6 birds. I'm not sure if two extras will make a huge difference.

 

[Backyardhomestead921]

Sometimes the roosters will try to show the hens new 'safe' places to lay. You could lock them up until they start laying in the boxes. The recommended amount of space is 4 square foot per bird, so your coop is good for 6 birds. I'm not sure if two extras will make a huge difference.

I have the same size coop, and that wouldn't be the issue. I do agree with what BrennaM had to say about the rooster. I would say to that locking them up for a day would be a good idea.

 

[HollowOfWisps]

That's not a bad rooster just a protective rooster trying to keep the hens safe by showing them where he has deemed it safe to lay. Put some fake eggs or small balls in your nesting boxes to encourage them to lay in there. However, 4x6 coop is only 24 SQ ft. With 7 hens and 1 rooster that is only 3 sq ft of space per chicken which is under the bare minimum recommendation of 4 SQ ft. Per bird. Chickens do not do well when they are in a coop that is too small and will often avoid being in there if possible.

 

[Geena]

And even when they have a good sized coop it's not unusual for them to take advantage of other places to lay if they have access to them, and it appears to be a good place to nest. I doubt it is just because of the rooster.

 

[BarnyardChaos]

Were the hens laying in their boxes before he came along?

 

[Carlos F]

Sometimes the roosters will try to show the hens new 'safe' places to lay. You could lock them up until they start laying in the boxes. The recommended amount of space is 4 square foot per bird, so your coop is good for 6 birds. I'm not sure if two extras will make a huge difference.

Most of the hens are laying in the boxes. a couple of weeks ago I found 9 eggs in the barn most likely the roosters fault. The next day I caught the culprit in the act and moved her to the coop. She hasn't laid any eggs in the barn since but I don't think she has laid any at all since. I agree with the overcrowding, and I would rather get rid of the rooster rather than a hen, especially a rooster that is working against me.
P.S. I added three more nest boxes a week ago to try and give the illusion of more space.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Take out some nest boxes for more room. That number only needs 1 or 2 boxes, not 6

 

[Carlos F]

Were the hens laying in their boxes before he came along?

I brought him home the same day we had the coop built. Since then we got rid of the two old hens that were here and introduced 7 young hens that started laying about a month ago

 

[Carlos F]

Take out some nest boxes for more room. That number only needs 1 or 2 boxes, not 6

the nest boxes stick out of the coop so they don't take up space. I only added the other nest boxes to try and create the illusion that the coop is bigger before I get rid of any birds.