Is it a Rooster problem?

[Hawaiilad]

We have 4 hens (mixed) that are 2 1/2 & 4 yrs old. The stopped laying about a month ago. We were only getting about one egg a day at that point. We have noticed the rooster seems to keep the hens in the coop. When they do come out, they run to the food, but the rooster keeps mounting them, so back in the coop they go. They are not eating as much as they were before this started...do even eat the fruit I give them. Could this be a rooster problem that I need to take care of? In a couple months we are ordering a bunch of new chicks and in time will mix them together, but if this rooster needs to go.

If I do get rid of the rooster, how will this affect the hens we have now? I have removed two other roosters, that were fighting all the time. This guy was OK for the past 2 years.

Thanks, Larry

 

[Pyxis]

It sounds like he's over-mating them. With only four hens, that is a definite possibility. You might need more hens to keep him happy. He'll spread his mating out more evenly and everyone will get a break for a while before he mates them again. If that's not possible, you might want to separate him or find him a new home because it sounds like the hens are unhappy.

The lack of egg laying isn't caused by the rooster, though. That's just because the days are shorter now.

 

[Hawaiilad]

I understand the shorter days, but here in Hawaii the days are really not much shorter. I thought perhaps the slow laying was because of age, since I was only getting one egg every day or so from the 4 hens. Last year this time, they slowed down, but not to stop all together??

 

[The Colonel]

It sounds like he's over-mating them. With only four hens, that is a definite possibility. You might need more hens to keep him happy. He'll spread his mating out more evenly and everyone will get a break for a while before he mates them again. If that's not possible, you might want to separate him or find him a new home because it sounds like the hens are unhappy.

The lack of egg laying isn't caused by the rooster, though. That's just because the days are shorter now.

X2

 

[Matthew3590]

Agree with the above post. Your 4 year old hens are not going to be laying as much as when they were younger because of age. If you chose to get rid of the rooster it will not affect them laying eggs but if the rooster is nothing but a nuisance the hens may be happier. Maybe you have a space issue as well.

 

[Hawaiilad]

We had 7 hens and have lost 3 of them over time. They seemed to get along just fine until the last month. Coop size is 4'X8" and covered run is 8'X24'

 

[donrae]

I'd pull that rooster out and see how things go. I agree the lack of production is likely age related, but if they're spending the majority of their time hiding from the rooster, they're stressed and not going to be healthy or productive. With 7 hens he may have been fine, but apparently this particular rooster needs more hens to mate.