Pecking order mishap?

[khope71]

Ok, this is going to be a long one but please stay with me because I really need some answers.....we have about 30 hens and 5 roosters on our farm. They are kind of free range because they stay in the open sided feed barn and have free run over our livestock pens. We have all breeds of chickens and we usually incubate our own. We were getting about 2 dozen eggs per day, but a few weeks ago we bought 7 laying hens and an older rooster. A week ago I found our Alpha rooster, King, with his head tucked in between two hay bales as far as he could go. My husband figured he got 'whooped' by the new older rooster, so we gave him away. For several days after that King didn't want to come out of the barn and my egg production went way down to about 5 to 6 eggs per day now. Anyway, I'm thinking with everything that I've read, that the pecking order got messed up and that might have to do with the egg production? Everyone is healthy and they're all still eating and drinking, so my question is - is it because the pecking order? and if so, how long will it take to get everyone back to normal? They've had low egg production for about a week now. I would appreciate any answers that could help. Thank you.

 

[aart]

Welcome to BYC...sorry you are having troubles.

Adding birds causes chaos and stress...and yes, changes in the pecking order.
Since your birds are free ranged, I'd guess that they have found more peaceful places to lay and you may have to confine them to near the nests until they start laying there again.

This might not fit your setup as it doesn't sound like you have a typical 'coop', but....
Free range birds sometimes need to be 'trained'(or re-trained) to lay in the coop nests, especially new layers. Leaving them locked in the coop for a week or so can help 'home' them to lay in the coop nests. Fake eggs/golf balls in the nests can help 'show' them were to lay. They can be confined to coop and maybe run 24/7 for a few days to a week, provided you have adequate space and ventilation, or confine them at least until mid to late afternoon. You help them create a new habit and they will usually stick with it. ..at least for a good while, then repeat as necessary.

 

[chickens really]

Chickens don't handle stress well and adding new flock members is highly stressful..Could be a couple of weeks before laying gets back up to par...