My five girls...6 mo. old pullets seem to be having a rough time adapting to the rooster I recently adopted. One (the one most picked on by him) has begun staying in the coop a lot. Another has begun going off by herself a lot, and avoids him whenever possible. Two seem to do okay with him, and will usually submit to his advances. One still chases him away whenever he gets too close, although he's begun to be bold enough to give her a go. He's about 9 months old, and must be peaking hormonally, because he's going after the girls (trying to mate, sometimes successfully) A LOT recently...in a 10-15 minute span I watched him make 8 attempts.
So I'm wondering if it's coincidence that egg production has fallen off over the past two days, or whether stress could be the issue? Their egg schedule is typically 5 eggs/5 eggs/3 eggs/5 eggs/5 eggs/3 eggs/4 eggs...something along those lines. BUT...the past two days have been 3 eggs/2 eggs. And my little wyandotte (who now avoids him) was laying 6 days a week, but has only layed maybe 3 times this week. Thanks!
So I'm wondering if it's coincidence that egg production has fallen off over the past two days, or whether stress could be the issue? Their egg schedule is typically 5 eggs/5 eggs/3 eggs/5 eggs/5 eggs/3 eggs/4 eggs...something along those lines. BUT...the past two days have been 3 eggs/2 eggs. And my little wyandotte (who now avoids him) was laying 6 days a week, but has only layed maybe 3 times this week. Thanks!
