Broody and low egg production

[Nuggets]

Hi,
Please bare with me I am still new to the chicken thing...

I had 8 chickens last year and was getting 7-8 eggs a day when they started laying. I had to give up 3 of the ladies so I have 5 now. However I now only get 1 or 2 eggs a day. What is going on there? I should be at 4-5 a day I would think - this has been this way for 2 1/2 months now.

Also, I have one broody lady who refuses to get up and out. She pecks me if you try to take the eggs from under her. What can I do to help her get the point that she is not having chicks any day soon? We have 8 boxes so they all have a place to go lay.

Also, I have a new araucana rooster. at what point can I mix him in with the ladies?

I know this might be a real stupid ? but he can fertilise eggs of any type of chicken right? they do not have to be araucana hens right? Also from a genetics standpoint, will this mix of Araucana roo with other hens cause any qeird genetic issues? do you think I can hatch said chicks?

Lastly, I have 2 indian runner ducks. Would it even be ok to keep the chickens and the ducks in the same pen?

Thank you for your input.

 

[gamebirdsonly]

Well as far as fertile eggs yes the eggs will be fertile doesn't matter what kind of chicken hen. You shouldn't have any genetic issues unless somewhere in the parent stock of your birds had problems.

I would put him in with hens and see what happens.

Ducks and chickens together can be some what of problem since ducks like water and can make a heck of mess and chickens could get sick. So depending on size of pen it might not be good Idea to have them in same pen.

Sorry can't help you much with your egg production or broody hen.

 

[Den in Penn]

Upset and stress can slow even stop laying. Hens can also take breaks off laying. Having a broody yelling at them every time they go to lay an egg, sitting in the nest they want to use. can stress some flocks, other flocks keep on dropping them.

 

[bloonskiller911]

if you want to stop her broodiness, put her in a wire cage for 3 days, up off of the ground. have your hens moltted? this could have something to do with the egg production. good luck

 

[Nuggets]

Thanks everyone. I mixed in the rooster this weekend and after about 12 hours they seemed to start to get along - boy did he ever take over as the king fast - even miss broody is now out of the box again. So far egg production is low but lets see what a few days brings.

No, nobody has molted yet. These ladies were all chicks in April last year and started laying about September - they never molted at all and then all of a sudden 4 weeks ago one goes broody and egg productions drops by 75%

I did wind up building a seperate pen for the ducks so they are all happy now.

I have hatched one new Araucana double tufted wheaten and wild rumpless from egg. I have more cooking right now due in 2 weeks. I hope I do not get any more roo's as I think this lil one is a roo and the roo I have is a double tufted mottled roo.

If I get any more Roo's they will need a good home!