My hen is crowing? And the other won't lay in the coop.

[sikesjj]

My henstarted crowing yesterday, the same day that my rooster (RIP Henry) disappeared. She is now acting aggressive towards my other hen that I found sitting on two eggs underneath a tree. A few weeks ago my neighbors didn't collect the eggs like they said they would so we came home to four eggs in the nest, it was warm out so I threw them away. I thought she had quit laying since then. I am new to having chickens, so I am confused. What do I need to do about the crowing, agressive hen? How do I get my hen to laying in her nest box again? Thanks in advance!

 

[Fred's Hens]

The loss of your rooster has upset their social order and their world.

Leave the hens in the coop/run for a few days, perhaps a week, and they'll generally go back to laying in the nests. No freedom until they've got this "re-learned. The crowing hen is merely taking the rooster's place in the pecking order. She may keep it up, she may not. Just give it time.

There's also no need to throw away eggs laid in two or three days.

 

[sikesjj]

The loss of your rooster has upset their social order and their world.

Leave the hens in the coop/run for a few days, perhaps a week, and they'll generally go back to laying in the nests. No freedom until they've got this "re-learned. The crowing hen is merely taking the rooster's place in the pecking order. She may keep it up, she may not. Just give it time.

There's also no need to throw away eggs laid in two or three days.

I thought since it was warm outside they maybe bad is why I threw them away. As for the two I found this morning I threw them away becuase I have no idea how old they are and I didn;t want to take any chances. I will go lock them up now, they are going to be pissy, I will give them some extra treats to make it right. Thank you!!!!!!!

 

[Hanna8]

You can use the float test on eggs you aren't sure about. I live in Florida, so I get why you worry. What you do is fill a cup or bowl with water and put the eggs in one at a time. If they float they've gone bad, but if they sink they're safe to eat.

 

[StrayMagnet]

thaks for that float or sink tip!!. Since yesterday I found 2 eggs in the coop with the momma hen n her now grown chicks.. I brought them in and tried to candle them so i knew if there was mabey some development. I figured none so I put them in the fridge. asi know chickens lay 1 per day.. so i figured since it's been chilly outlast few days they'd be good.. and I know she laied one last night or this morn as when I got up to feed the animals. I checked for eggs n there was a egg, man i can't waite till the other 4 pullet/hens lay

 

[chookhead]

oo btw if she keep crowing the chances of her laying again are extremely slim u must replace the role of rooster u start crowing u have to
thats the thing if u assert ur dominance then she will be quiet and feel protected or just get a new strong rooster and she should go back to normal

 

[terryg]

Hens can become more aggressive, but they shouldn't crow (crowing being different than loud cackling.) A hen has only one functioning ovary. If that gets injured or diseased then the hormones change and she might begin to crow. Obviously, if this is the case, she won't lay anymore eggs.

 

[dainerra]

hens that crow are actually fairly common. It's not quite like a rooster crow, but definitely can't be confused with cackling.