Peahen layer 2 eggs and stopped

[Selenity]

Hello everyone. My peahen laid 2 eggs, then one very soft egg then stopped over 4 weeks ago. She is the same coop with our 2 males. Last year, when they turned 2, I had to separate them during mating season because of the fighting. This year, they are generally civil to each other, while the India Blue male still tries, the Pied male is more dominant. Is having 2 males in the coop with the female halted mating for the female thus her no longer laying eggs?

 

[sourland]

Mating doesn't cause egg laying. It is possible that the stress of dealing with two males has caused the break in egg laying.

 

[KsKingBee]

Mating doesn't cause egg laying. It is possible that the stress of dealing with two males has caused the break in egg laying.

Although I agree with your second statement I don't agree with the first. Being bred by an aggressive cock will stimulate a hen to lay sooner in the season and for longer if the eggs are removed.

 

[sourland]

Although I agree with your second statement I don't agree with the first. Being bred by an aggressive cock will stimulate a hen to lay sooner in the season and for longer if the eggs are removed.

Is this a species specific phenomenon? It's the only fowl where I've heard that mating stimulates egg laying.

 

[sourland]

I do know that mating can stimulate ovulation in rabbits and cats.

 

[KsKingBee]

Is this a species specific phenomenon? It's the only fowl where I've heard that mating stimulates egg laying.

I don't know about other species but it is obvious to large-scale peafowl breeders with many breeding pens and many years of observation. It tends to be more prevalent in hybrids and greens. Gerald at Bob's Green Peafowl brought it to my attention years ago, saying Greens are very aggressive and will breed unwilling hens and in turn the hens will start laying sooner.