[NormandyMary]

Hello everyone, first time poster here. I currently have seven hens, (we lost one to a fox just before Christmas), but am only getting 1 egg per day. My girls are free range, and have plenty of land to roam over, and I have checked everywhere to make sure they are not laying in other places. My hairdresser came this morning and she said we would benefit from keeping a cockerel aswell. What are your thoughts please?
Many thanks.
Mary.

[Selkie]

Hi Mary,

I'm not too experienced in keeping hens but it might just be that it's still very early in the year and they haven't settled into their own little routine yet.

My two started laying again at the start of January and are still a bit irregular - we had 10 eggs a week for two weeks and now it's been 5 a week for the last couple of weeks.

[Aunt Sally]

Hi Mary Welcome to the forums.

How old are your hens and what breed are they ?

If these are not the cause of the low egg count it could just be the time of year and lack of day length.

A cockerel would help to keep the hens together but would not improve numbers of eggs laid.

I'd have a look to see where the hens dissapear to you might still find them laying away.

[Lost in France]

I love my cockerels but think that, if I asked the girls, they'd say don't bother! I think they were happier to do their own thing without a bossy cockerel to keep them in order! You don't need the cockerel unless you want fertile eggs to hatch otherwise I wouldn't get one...keep life simple for the girls...they'll start laying for you soon!

Judi

[milliebecks]

Funny old thing, but my hairdresser doesn't know a thing about chickens!!

[Lost in France]

Well maybe Babe has one that knows abour chickens...her Popcorn looks as though she has her hair done regularly!

Judi

[milliebecks]

Very good point ..... I think we should be told ...... Babe?

[mdueal]

I couldnt imagine not having cockerals - we have three and they are so full of character and beautiful to watch.