Do hens lay more eggs with a rooster around or without one?

[hannahsocal]

Obviously a rooster has nothing to do with a hen’s ability to lay eggs, but I’m just really curious if having a roo around “encouranges” more egg laying, discourages it, or is it unaffected by it?

 

[21hens-incharge]

Actually stressed hens lay less eggs.
Often times a rooster will stress them by the constant harassment causing them to slow or stop laying.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Obviously a rooster has nothing to do with a hen’s ability to lay eggs, but I’m just really curious if having a roo around “encouranges” more egg laying, discourages it, or is it unaffected by it?

Having a rooster around does not encourage egg laying. If it did the commercial egg laying operations would have roosters in with the hens. They don't.

Having a rooster around does not discourage egg laying just because a rooster is around. Stress will discourage laying. Stress can come from a bad rooster, a bad dominant hen, overcrowding, running out of water, changes in feed, changes in lighting, too much lighting, extreme hot or cold weather, changes in the pecking order, and so many other things. Immature cockerels might stress hens but even then I don't see any noticeable decrease in egg laying when I have immature cockerels around.

 

[Saveria]

Yeah, from everything I have heard roosters don't change that sort of stuff. Still, a rooster can get you more hens to lay eggs if you hatch them.

 

[FC16]

Doesn’t really affect it as mentioned above. However if a flock feels unsafe and stressed, egg production will decrease. A ‘good rooster’ will be make the hens feel safe, meaning they aren’t stressed and can lay as they should. So in some aspects you could say roosters can play a part in the egg laying - but overall, getting a rooster won’t mean your egg production skyrockets.

 

[Isadora]

A happy healthy hen lays the most eggs. Whether or not they are the most happy and healthy with their current rooster is another matter.

 

[Est]

Obviously a rooster has nothing to do with a hen’s ability to lay eggs, but I’m just really curious if having a roo around “encouranges” more egg laying, discourages it, or is it unaffected by it?

Actually stressed hens lay less eggs.
Often times a rooster will stress them by the constant harassment causing them to slow or stop laying.

I had the opposite experience! My hens never had a rooster around, and when we began to integrate one into the flock, their egg production DOUBLED! I think that what the rooster has added to their social hierarchy has actually made them less stressed

 

[nuthatched]

I had the opposite experience! My hens never had a rooster around, and when we began to integrate one into the flock, their egg production DOUBLED! I think that what the rooster has added to their social hierarchy has actually made them less stressed

Did you switch to a better feed to accommodate to roo?

 

[Est]

Did you switch to a better feed to accommodate to roo?

Nope. The rooster isn’t even incooperated into my flock yet haha. He has a separate pen next to the hens so that they get use to his scent- and they’ve all picked up laying. Them being less stressed with him around is the only thing I can figure out as to why

 

[21hens-incharge]

Nope. The rooster isn’t even incooperated into my flock yet haha. He has a separate pen next to the hens so that they get use to his scent- and they’ve all picked up laying. Them being less stressed with him around is the only thing I can figure out as to why

How long have you had him? How old are these hens?
How many hens?

Something else has triggered the increase in eggs.

They also don't get used to his scent.....
They get used to his presence.