Roos I assume? And Q's on integrating them and egg production...

[fastEddie]

First the pic - am I right in assuming the these two Buckeyes with big tail feathers are roos? The one in the middle looking away is the third that I'm fairly confident is a hen.

Secondly, since introducing these 3 Buckeyes (initially from a built-in pen in the coop and now fully integrated) our egg production from our other 10 ladies has dropped from 6-7/day on average to probably 2/day. Now I'm pretty sure our 3 Silver Laced Wyandotte's are molting but our other 3 Buffs and 4 Easter Eggers appear to be fine.

Is some production drop normal when integrating new birds? Or is it due more to 2 young roos being loose with the ladies? I haven't noticed any friskiness, actually the ladies are doing a good job of letting the 2 guys know where they rank in the pecking order - at the bottom!

 

[PunkinPeep]

I can see the saddle feathers on the roo to the left, but on the other two, i can't see the details well enough to say.

In regard to your egg production, you may have more molting than you think. Many of my girls just went through a molt, but you couldn't tell it very easily just by looking at them. Maybe it was a "soft" molt? I'm not sure. But in any case, i wouldn't expect the addition of the roosters to affect egg production that much, especially if the girls aren't afraid of them.

 

[Mrs. Fluffy Puffy]

You have a breeding trio ( meaning: 1 roo and 2 hens.

)
Since the days are getting shorter your hens are going to stop laying. Or not lay as well.

 

[fastEddie]

The second alleged roo looks identical to the one on the left so I'm confident if lefty above is a roo then so is blurred righty. Maybe I'll try to get a better pic of them.

As far as egg production (my bigger concern) - I've got a light on a timer in the coop so I'm pretty sure it isn't the shorter days.... I suppose others could be molting as well but I sure haven't seen any evidence.

Hmm....