Oops, we’ve got a rooster

[CaptSpero]

One of our new additions to the flock seems to accidentally be a rooster! He’s a silkie about 5 months old, and just a week ago I witnessed him doing a mating dance at one of our laying hens (who’s over a year old).

We intend to get rid of the little dude (we can’t have roosters in the city where we live) but until we can do that he seems intent on mating with one of the hens. She isn’t into it at all, but since I’ve noticed the mating dance she also seems to have stopped laying. She’s usually very punctual with her eggs, could the advances of this little rooster stopped her laying pattern?

Thanks for the help!

 

[ChickenFarmer61804]

I don't believe so. A hen will lay her eggs at the same time that she normally does whether they are fertile or not.

 

[PirateGirl]

Chickens' laying can be interrupted by stress. If she doesn't like the cockerel and he is being more aggressive/amorous than usual and it's stressing her out, she certainly could stop laying for awhile. One of my ducks quit laying during integration with other birds. All 3 ducks quit laying when they moved.

 

[BirdGirl2004]

First off...! I hope you enjoy this site as much as the rest of us! I have learned SOOO much from this site, and I hope that you do too! Secondly, I agree with
PirateGirl, in saying that chickens laying can be interrupted by stress! I've had many hens stop laying when introducing a new flock member! If you're going to get rid of the little silkie roo, then I would think she would go back to laying shortly after!
Hope this helps, good luck!