Removing a Rooster, Would that Affect Egg Production?

[DogChickenDad]

I have about 33 birds in a large pen and there is a 10 x 12 room the birds can go into in bad weather or when they want to. I have a separate nesting box. 11 of the birds are pullets, not ready to lay yet. There is plenty of outside space for them to romp and play.

Up until recently we were getting 12-14 eggs, production has dropped off to 8. We recently removed a rooster from our flock because he had an attitude problem. Ever since then our egg production has dropped and my blue eggs have disappeared. We believe he was an Easter egg rooster. There are two other roosters and one of the pullets just started crowing. I am pretty sure the shorter days has affected production (I do have a light in the room) but would the removal of the rooster also do it? Could his ladies be in mourning, some still sleep outside (even in cold and rain) where his perch was?

 

[TTracy]

I have about 33 birds in a large pen and there is a 10 x 12 room the birds can go into in bad weather or when they want to. I have a separate nesting box. 11 of the birds are pullets, not ready to lay yet. There is plenty of outside space for them to romp and play.

Up until recently we were getting 12-14 eggs, production has dropped off to 8. We recently removed a rooster from our flock because he had an attitude problem. Ever since then our egg production has dropped and my blue eggs have disappeared. We believe he was an Easter egg rooster. There are two other roosters and one of the pullets just started crowing. I am pretty sure the shorter days has affected production (I do have a light in the room) but would the removal of the rooster also do it? Could his ladies be in mourning, some still sleep outside (even in cold and rain) where his perch was?

Hello! I dont believe that removing the rooster would cause a drop in egg production. I have 15 hens and 2 roosters. I keep my roos and hens separated when they are in the pen, only letting them together when they are free ranging. I only did this because I was tired at looking at my poor girls bare backs from being over sexed! I would guess that it is more likely the shorter days (even with a light added) that has caused a drop in your egg production.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Any change in the flock can cause a disruption in egg production. Chickens are creatures of habit and don't deal well with change. It doesn't matter how small the change is (adding a nest box) to how big it is (removal of a bird from the flock).

Also, depending on the ages of your flock, you may have birds molting. Molting is triggered by the shorter days and they cannot lay eggs while they molt - all their energy has to go into growing in new feathers. So, if it looks like a pillow exploded in your yard, that's molting.

And lastly, with the shorter days, production will fall some. Laying is tied to daylight hours, and in the shorter days, they don't lay as regularly. The good news is in a few short weeks the days will be getting longer. (in the Northern Hemisphere)

 

[DogChickenDad]

Any change in the flock can cause a disruption in egg production. Chickens are creatures of habit and don't deal well with change. It doesn't matter how small the change is (adding a nest box) to how big it is (removal of a bird from the flock).

Also, depending on the ages of your flock, you may have birds molting. Molting is triggered by the shorter days and they cannot lay eggs while they molt - all their energy has to go into growing in new feathers. So, if it looks like a pillow exploded in your yard, that's molting.

And lastly, with the shorter days, production will fall some. Laying is tied to daylight hours, and in the shorter days, they don't lay as regularly. The good news is in a few short weeks the days will be getting longer. (in the Northern Hemisphere)

That makes sense, not only has the rooster been removed but 23 Cornish Rocks went with him for processing. After they left the cage in the house was populated with the 11 pullets. I have also been working on the coop, I put vinyl siding on it this weekend and the windows are in to keep it warmer, all summer the windows were out.

I think there has been some molting but I can't be sure how many, my oldest are my red sex-links. The days are definitely shorter and colder, when the days do get longer and in February the pullets should be laying which means I will need ore egg customers, right now the ladies are barely keeping up with demand.