Chickens.

I fuss them Rusty and give them a gentle stroke,I can't resist they look so cute.I've only got 3 chooks left at the moment all getting on a bit but two do still 'sit' and are laying whereas Daisy chook is 'menopausal' and doesn't 'sit' any more or lay,it's usually how I find out who's laying and who isn't

 

Hi All,

First egg this morning. I found it on top of the coop.Proud man showing it off moments before it was cracked and scrambled.



Little man with the hen we think is responsible.


Rusty

 

The first eggs are normally smaller than when they're laying regularly.

 

To be honest Scrungee it was not that much smaller than the ones we bought for lunch yesterday, although the yolk was smaller.

Rusty

 

Brilliant Rusty isn't it a treat getting your first egg...I went to the extremes of blowing the egg and saving the shell as a momento...

How did it taste?..once they're in full swing you'll never buy another egg,I haven't and refuse to do so even though my supplies are getting low,I've only got 2 hens laying now,I feel more chooks coming on

 

Oooh, how EGGciting is that!!!!????

That's one very, very handsome young man you have there

Some eggs are what is known as "fart" eggs = no yolk at all! Seems your hen is a happy hen Well done and wishing many, many omelettes ahead

 

A very special for making our dreamhouse

looks a smasher too,
Jenny

 

Hi All,

I have had 5 eggs in the last 7 days looking at the colour of the egg I think that they are all from the same hen. The problem I have is that they are being laid on the roof of the coop and not in the nest boxes. Do I not worry? Do I make a nest box and attach it it the back part of the run? I am worried that as the roof is corrugated the eggs are rolling down the roof to the back and they may get damaged. Any advice on what too do greatly received?

Rusty

 

I put a fake egg in the nest box to give the girls an idea of what the nest box was for (it was a marble egg ... then I found a rubber egg = less chilly )

Bit confused though ... do they not have a nest box already? When I had the walk in run I recycled a plastic pet carrier box which the girls used as a nesting box.

Also, you say you have had 5 laid on the roof - I'm assuming they haven't rolled down/been damaged?

Hens can be fickle little things. One of my bantams didn't use the nest box in the cube ... she was far happier laying eggs in the copse amongst a patch of chocolate mint. When I eventually discovered her private "nest" there were almost 3 dozen eggs in there

 

I'd try "M"s idea Rusty the hen maybe needs a bit of guidance

On looking back at the pictures are your nest boxes on the left and right as you look through the door,I can't quite see...and are they big enough?Hens can be fickle at times and if it doesn't suit them they soon let you know

 

Thanks for the replies,

I have put a golf ball in each as I read on the internet that this also works. There are 2 nest boxes internally in the coop on the left hand side of the pop hole. They are buckets on there side as I thought that it would be easier to clean, it may be down to a size, I think i will get a cardboard box in there that is bigger to see if they will use that. The eggs have rolled down the roof, but as of yet none damaged.

Rusty

 

@rustyroots Have you checked for signs of Red Mite? A bit late for them but it can cause hens to avoid the nest boxes.

 

Possibly not with the mild weather we're having: good call, @Scrungee

 

I.ve just rescued 9 laying hens today approx. 21/2 years old,chap near me down on the allotment has to part with them as his plot has become water logged.I was just saying to him the bad luck my daughter had with her few,(5 fox got 2 then dogs got 2 more) she got 4 more point of lay to replace them and the @@@@@@@ dogs broke into the run and got 2 more.We have found out that they feed on raw chicken.Just need to find out where they live!! There run has been renetted and made secure. She has had chickens for a few years without any problems,they have all been very tame once they get use to you also have all been named by grandaughter and spoilt.

 

@fileyboy well done to you for rescuing the Allotment Nine.
Do you know which breed they are? And, more importantly, do you have photo's of them?