Too Dang Mean to Lay Eggs!

[RowanTheRed]

Foxy, one of my brown leghorns, is such a mean bully. But she is especially aggressive to Dexter my rooster. She not only beats up on him any time he gets near the other pullets, she also literally goes out of her way to terrorize him!

She's around 18 weeks old and her comb looks like she should be laying. But I think she's just to mean and nasty to lay eggs. Lord knows if she did they'd be deviled eggs for certain.

 

[rjohns39]

When her comb stands up, she'll start laying. Most likely her issue with the roo is she's not ready to mate and he doesn't understand that.

 

[RowanTheRed]

@rjohns39
Her comb USED to stand up. It's gotten so big that it's flopping over now lol.

And she's always been this mean to him, even before HE knew he was a rooster. She is also this mean to my Orpington pullet that's 4 weeks younger but much bigger than her. She's just a grumpy old bitty.

 

[rjohns39]

@rjohns39
Her comb USED to stand up. It's gotten so big that it's flopping over now lol.

And she's always been this mean to him, even before HE knew he was a rooster. She is also this mean to my Orpington pullet that's 4 weeks younger but much bigger than her. She's just a grumpy old bitty.

Some times they are just mean. Most of my girls are excepting of the boys--but the younger ones who aren't ready really attack the boys after they try their thing.

 

[keesmom]

Her comb USED to stand up. It's gotten so big that it's flopping over now lol.

And she's always been this mean to him, even before HE knew he was a rooster. She is also this mean to my Orpington pullet that's 4 weeks younger but much bigger than her. She's just a grumpy old bitty.

The combs on Leghorn females are supposed to flop over.

She may always be a cranky boss pullet, though she may mellow some once she gets into the swing of laying and the hormones even out.

 

[RowanTheRed]

The combs on Leghorn females are supposed to flop over.

She may always be a cranky boss pullet, though she may mellow some once she gets into the swing of laying and the hormones even out.

Lord, I sure hope she mellows out REAL SOON!

 

[aart]

She might be too stressed to lay.
Isolating that boy away from the pullets may bring eggs sooner.
I assume that Dexter is also about 18 weeks old?

Looks like you free range, could she be laying out in range area??
Butt check could determine whether she's laying or not:
Vent Appearance:
Dry, tight, and smaller - usually not laying.
Moist, wide, and larger - usually laying.

Pelvic Points, feel for the 2 bony points(pelvic bones F-F) on either side of vent:
Less than 2 fingertip widths apart usually means not laying.
More than 2 fingertip widths apart usually means laying.
(Spacing is relative with chickens size and humans finger size.)

 

[RowanTheRed]

She might be too stressed to lay.
Isolating that boy away from the pullets may bring eggs sooner.
I assume that Dexter is also about 18 weeks old?

Looks like you free range, could she be laying out in range area??
Butt check could determine whether she's laying or not:
Vent Appearance:
Dry, tight, and smaller - usually not laying.
Moist, wide, and larger - usually laying.

Pelvic Points, feel for the 2 bony points(pelvic bones F-F) on either side of vent:
Less than 2 fingertip widths apart usually means not laying.
More than 2 fingertip widths apart usually means laying.
(Spacing is relative with chickens size and humans finger size.)

Yes, they free range, but only I my back yard which isn't that big. Dexter is 4 weeks younger than she is, but just coming into realizing he's a rooster. He won't go anywhere near her, she's bunnies him and the other 3 younger ones since they've been put out together. She mostly bullies him or Luna my splash Orpington. Luna is the low chicken one the totem, yet the biggest.

I keep thinking that she's laying elsewhere, but we have been able to figure out where. Trust me, we've looked everywhere. There is a chance something is eating the eggs, but I've not seen any evidence of this at all. No broken shells, no yolk trace and none of the chicken seem bothered add of they have seen a predator around. However, there is a squirrel that follows them at times when they are hanging out.

I wish I could catch her to check her anatomy out, but she is too fast and I'm afraid I'm making her more anxious and stressed out. I've tried to sit out with them and watch her to see if she's laying, but so far no luck.

 

[aart]

Cockerels cause all kinds or trouble,
many folks isolate them until the pullets are laying well.

Easiest to examine birds off the roost well after dark wearing a headlight.
Hidden nests are often not found.
If exam show her to be laying best to confine her for a week or so.
Free range birds sometimes need to be 'trained'(or re-trained) to lay in the coop nests, especially new layers. Leaving them locked in the coop for 3-4 days (or longer) can help 'home' them to lay in the coop nests. Fake eggs/golf balls in the nests can help 'show' them were to lay. They can be confined to coop 24/7 for a few days to a week, or confine them at least until late afternoon. You help them create a new habit and they will usually stick with it. ..at least for a good while, then repeat as necessary.

 

[lazy gardener]

Agreed with Keesmom. Leghorns are supposed to have floppy combs. She may settle down. But, it's my opinion and a general reputation of the Mediterranean breeds that they tend to be more flighty and also more aggressive.