My Americanas are not laying since it started getting cold in Nov. How can I get them to start laying again. I have a light on them. Also I am fixing to introduce new roosters (don't have any right now) to the girls. Should I seperate them for a while?
Penny, Roosters will not help your hens lay, in fact since they have been without a rooster, it may have the opposite effect. It is not unusual to have hens take a rest during the winter months. How many hours of light do they have? 14 is considered the right amount, and should come on early, before daylight, but go off before twightlight, so they can find their way to roost. Assume your hens are fed a good Layer Ration, have oystershell and grit, and perhaps a VERY small amount of Scratch feed once a day. Green feed sometimes gives them a stimulus during winter (I use nice green, leafy alfalfa hay--just a small amount every couple of days, as you must take out the remaining still stems). This keeps them active. As the days naturally get longer, your hens will doubtless start to lay again, but unless you want some fertile eggs to hatch--you and your hens will be happier without any roosters!!! Good luck, CJR
Certainly CJR is right that you don't need a rooster. But, if you have only one rooster, they are fun to watch ... their antics are often comical.
By Cjeanr on Wednesday, February 6, 2002 - 01:12 pm:
By Infomaniac on Wednesday, February 6, 2002 - 04:37 pm:
Some roosters can get so protective of their females that they will attack people. Sometimes they will attack you anyway because they want you to be beneath them in the peck order. But, we have some pretty nice boys here (and one or two of the more aggressive type). I really hate to butcher a nice rooster. We have some real sweeties now. I posted a picture of Pierre here before, and Osama bin Rooster is a nice boy too. And we like them to crow.