Does bullying affect egglaying?

[Rivington]

Our flock of six (four red sex links and two Easter Eggers) started laying around three weeks ago, and they are around 22 weeks old now. One of our Easter Eggers is not yet laying though. She is definitely bottom of the pecking order, as the others chase her away from food and generally pester her. I wondered if her delayed laying might be due to stress or whether she is just a late bloomer.

 

[IdyllwildAcres]

Our flock of six (four red sex links and two Easter Eggers) started laying around three weeks ago, and they are around 22 weeks old now. One of our Easter Eggers is not yet laying though. She is definitely bottom of the pecking order as the others chase her away from food and generally pester her. I wondered if her delayed laying might be due to stress or whether she is just a late bloomer.

I would think if she is not getting enough food it would affect laying. I would put another feeder and waterer out of sight of the others to make sure she eats enough.

Good luck

Gary

 

[aart]

I would think if she is not getting enough food it would affect laying. I would put another feeder and waterer out of sight of the others to make sure she eats enough.

Ditto Dat^^^...and the stress could have an effect too.

Oh, and, Welcome to BYC!

Oh, and and, 22 weeks is not to worry about, could take another month.

 

[BirdHead]

Pull her and hand feed in twice a day and see if she begins laying.

Two handfuls is plenty one in morning one in night, also mix in a little oyster shell and a tad grit if she don't have access to a pile

 

[BirdHead]

If you were real serious add some vitamin/electrolyte water solute to their waterers, it's harder for them to get all of it so if you like a b complex shot would be good. A bottle of durvet maxi b 1000 is only $10 and needles are inexpensive if you don't have many fowl.

 

[Rivington]

Thanks for the feedback. It sounds like I should ensure she has access to food and water and not worry for a few more weeks.

 

[aart]

Thanks for the feedback. It sounds like I should ensure she has access to food and water and not worry for a few more weeks.

Yes, give her time and the rest will follow,
no need for drastic feeding regimes at this point.

Newly laying pullets are hormonal and can be rowdy,
it also changes the pecking order.
Things should smooth out in a few weeks.

Might want to put extra feeders and waterers around so they are harder to 'guard'.

 

[Rivington]

As an update, after a considerable amount of squawking yesterday, she laid her first egg. She is is still bottom of the pecking order but we have been taking care to ensure she gets a private stash of food. Thanks for the advice.