Roosters and Egg Production

[thebajagirl]

I had a RIR rooster in my flock. He got really nasty so he went bye bye. My egg production dropped off significantly . Someone just gave us a cute little batnti rooster. Guess what , egg production has gone back up. Maybe they just like having a guy around, as little as he is!

 

[krista74]

@Michael Talk , it is very significant to note that commercial laying hens in battery cages have never seen a single rooster, have never seen sunshine, and are under tremendous stress: They can't walk, stand up, turn around, flap wings, scratch or peck, or take a dust bath; they're in constant noise, bad air, and have no bedding whatsoever. Yet, if they don't lay a minimum of 4 - 5 eggs per week, they're shipped off to a pet food factory.

As I look out my window I see my 7 chubby, fluffy hens and my one contented rooster pecking and scratching their way across my five acres of lawn and bushland. It is 30 degrees celcius (86F) today and they are digging for grubs and eating weeds (and my flowers!) They have lots of lovely trees and shrubs to hide under, and often take an afternoon nap together. If they lay an egg, that's wonderful, and if not there is always tomorrow. They are loved and appreciated every day.

Both I, and my chickens, are blessed to have each other.

- Krista

 

[Hooligans7]

As I look out my window I see my 7 chubby, fluffy hens and my one contented rooster pecking and scratching their way across my five acres of lawn and bushland. It is 30 degrees celcius (86F) today and they are digging for grubs and eating weeds (and my flowers!) They have lots of lovely trees and shrubs to hide under, and often take an afternoon nap together. If they lay an egg, that's wonderful, and if not there is always tomorrow. They are loved and appreciated every day.

Both I, and my chickens, are blessed to have each other.

- Krista

Sounds wonderful, krista74. Our three older girls are taking a break from laying (moulting), but the two young ones are still laying steadily. It's a bit alarming to see a pile of feathers on the coop floor, but it's something that must be done after 2.5 years of faithful output.
It's chilly here; we had our first snow last weekend. There's still some clover and patches of green grass for them to eat, but no more bugs or grubs until spring. Nevertheless, they stay optimistic and look for 'em under the leaf litter.