Just a coincidence???

[beeksnfeet]

In a previous post I had written for help with chicken behavior. I had seperated 2 of my small flock the day after Christmas and put them in their own pen. The 3 others were in the original run this whole time. Once the aggresser was moved, the others stopped laying eggs. They had slowed down a while before, but then just suddenly stopped after this nasty bird was removed. The nasty one lays nearly everyday no matter what. Long story short, she is no longer with us. I gave her to a new home with lots of other chickens and roosters. Now, when I went to the other coop to clean and visit with the girls, the littlest one was in a nesting box so I let her be and when I came back later, she was doing the 'laying song'!! And there was an egg.....the nasty bird leaves the property and the other start laying the same day??? The nasty bird was removed from their pen for brutal behavior and they all stopped laying that day??? Coincidence? :/

 

[Corny Caleb]

It's possible that the stress that bully hen inflicted on the other hens caused the other ones not too lay, or, the bully one could have always been hogging the nesting box.

 

[aart]

Not a coincidence....Stress......I removed a young roo who was stalking everyone..2 days later the 3 pullets started laying and the old girls stepped it back up too.

 

[beeksnfeet]

It's possible that the stress that bully hen inflicted on the other hens caused the other ones not too lay, or, the bully one could have always been hogging the nesting box.

I agree...just thought it was so wierd that the day I move the nasty one they stop laying. Then when they watch me give her away...they start again! Thanks for the reply.

 

[beeksnfeet]

Not a coincidence....Stress......I removed a young roo who was stalking everyone..2 days later the 3 pullets started laying and the old girls stepped it back up too.

They sure can make you think, ya know! I hope our frigid cold (-17 degrees tonight) breaks soon. I think that will help them start laying again too. I'm not exactly sure which hens lay, as they didn't start until September. and even tho we had 5 hens (pullets), I have only gotten 3 eggs at the same time. Thanks for replying!