Grounding my hens?

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Muffin Cheeks

Muffin Cheeks

Hatching
8 Years
Jun 5, 2011
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I have seven laying hens that used to wait their turn for a favorite nesting box out of the three I provided. Now only two use the box and the rest lay somewhere on the three acres we have. It seems like their bahavior may have changed when the new rooster came to live with them and he is looking for a new home anyway. Should I lock them in the hen house for a day? I have tried that but can't stand to make them stay in there! Also, only one of my hens is showing signs of mites but it might be possible that she is being over bred?
 
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Quote:
A new addition can disrupt a layer. Mine got a little wonky when we added a new roo a few months ago. One was even laying in the pasture - out in the open!

Took a few weeks, but they adjusted
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Definitely check for mites. It is a good idea to treat the whole flock if one is infected. However, most roos will have a favorite hen and tend to be over zealous with her.
 
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I am having the same problem. Tomorrow I'm leaving them locked up all day. If I get more eggs than I have been, they are going to stay locked up a few days until they remember where their nest boxes are.
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Good luck!
 
Make sure you clean nesting boxes very well & put fresh hay in all three. Purchase some ceramic eggs & keep one in each nesting box for a couple of weeks. Also, you might try putting a nesting box with fresh hay outside in a kind-a secluded area - also with a ceramic egg in it to encourge laying there.... move closer & closer gradually back to your coop. Also spread some diatomaceous earth inside your cleaned coop to cut down on parasites-- you can spread it in nesting boxes too, underneath the hay. Good lucK!
 

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