Hen stopped laying

[Teppler]

My two girls are over a yr old and have been laying an egg a day for months so
I guess I got a little greedy and wanted more eggs so I purchased eight new chicks six months ago well it turned out to be seven males and one hen..I was surprised but what can I do I have managed to give two away and the remaining five will not leave my girls alone and one has stopped laying.I have run an ad on Craigslist but no takers. I plan to let them free range on my one acre and let nature take its course, any comments are welcomed but they will be let out after I get off work. And yes there is a Hawk that hangs around here but lots of trees to roost and hide in. Will they be able to survive just foraging?

 

[Mountain Peeps]

They need to have a 16%protien layer feed even if they are foraging. Of course if they are foraging they won't eat as much though.

 

[Mountain Peeps]

They will also need some sort if shelter especially if there are hawks around.

 

[seann]

I think OP wants the excess roosters to be taken by hawks or nature, so no shelters for them .

 

[Teppler]

Actually I feel bad I would much rather someone take them but I cannot afford to feed the non productive roosters, so guess nature will decide if they make it or not.

 

[Tuhmu]

Have you considered processing them or taking them somewhere where they will do it for you? It may be the quickest way to end the coop chaos and put a stop to your poor hens misery. I would be a little leery of just letting them run wild, it may attract and train predators to single out your place.

 

[donrae]

You're responsible for these animals. That means you're responsible to give them a quick, humane death if that's the best option for the animal.

If my choice was...a bullet or slit throat, vs being chased by a predator with claws and a large beak, being literally torn apart and eaten alive, well gee, guess which one I'd pick?

You're in Texas, for heaven's sake. You must know someone with a gun at least willing to come out and dispatch them for you. They don't have to be processed and eaten, they make great fertilizer.

 

[Teppler]

I am closing this Thread!