Roo Died Hens Stopped Laying

[mogollon]

Has anyone experienced this? My Roo pasted away two weeks ago (4rs old). For 2 weeks after his passing my gals didn't lay an egg. We're just getting back to normal around here. Next question, any thoughts on how to introduce the new guy to the ladies?

 

[sumi]

Chickens are easily stressed and stress causes hens to either stop laying completely, or lay malformed eggs, if they do. Things like adding new birds to the flock, or losing a flock member, especially a prominent one like the rooster, can cause stress and disrupt the hens' laying cycle. It's perfectly normal

 

[Ebony Rose]

Sorry you lost your old guy. Sounds as if your hens were mourning too, they don't always, but can do that. Is the new guy new on your property? If so, 1 month for bio-security reasons, don't wanna bring in a roo, only to have him bring some unknown disease into your healthy flock. He'll need at least a week or two of "Look, don't touch" time with your existing flock near the end of his quarantine. If he's lived on your property for some time now, has he also had some "look, don't touch" time with your girls of at least a week, or two? If so, you can probably integrate him now... If not, that would be your next move.

 

[MROO]

Has anyone experienced this? My Roo pasted away two weeks ago (4rs old). For 2 weeks after his passing my gals didn't lay an egg. We're just getting back to normal around here. Next question, any thoughts on how to introduce the new guy to the ladies?

Biosecurity first! Keep him completely away from the hens for the first month to make sure he's not incubating anything nasty. Within sight and hearing of his new harem is fine, but no close contact. Since everyone's soil naturally harbors different bacteria, this gives him a chance to acclimate to the new soil/environment/feed without the added stress of joining a new flock.
Once he's proven his health and adapted to the new environment, you can put him either directly next to or inside the coop/run with his soon-to-be lady-friends for at least a week, two is better. It usually takes at least a week or two, sometimes longer, for them to meet properly through the wire and have the novelty wear off. It may be best to add him directly to the flock at night, after they've all settled in to roost. Make sure there is room on the common roost and a separate one, just in case. ... and keep your fingers crossed!
Good Luck!

 

[le_bwah]

Quail (like most birds) are easily stressed out. Mine stop laying for a couple weeks after moving between enclosures and after I cull excess males—as far as I know, that's normal.

As for introduction of the new guy, the advice other posters have given you applies to quail as well as chickens—avoid introducing new pathogens to the existing flock and let your hens meet the new roo before putting him in with them. Expect the addition of a new flock member to throw them off laying for a while, too.