Roosters affecting egg laying?

[adoptthem]

So what was supposed to have been 6 hens, I ended up with 3 roosters and 3 hens. My hens have not laid a single egg yet. they are about 22 weeks old and nothing. Could the fact that I have 3 roosters be affecting the hens or causing them to not lay?

 

[Yay Chicks!]

It's possible that they just are not quite yet ready to lay. But, I'm also wondering with the percentage of cockerals to pullets if they are being pestered out of their minds.

 

[sourland]

Continual harrassment and stress caused by gang breeding roosters can definately affect egg production and actually result in physical damage to the pullets.

 

[Rachel'sFlock]

This spring I added 8 straight run babies to my flock of 6 1-y/o hens. Out of the newbs I got 3 hens and 5 roos. As soon as the mating began, my big girls all dropped in egg production and 1 went immediately broody. It has taken about a month to get everybody back on track, again. Now it is time for the little girls to start getting ready to lay, and time to dispatch the remaining 3 roos who are too many for my flock.
Definitely, the stress of being repeatedly bred will unnerve even the most calm of hens.

 

[janinepeters]

I would add that I think hens in confinement are all-round happier without any rooster. They just seem calmer and more content. If they free range, they don't mind because they can get away from him, and might benefit if he protects from predators.