Comments on: Finally Earning Their Keep

By: Birdi

Birdi — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 01:13:22 +0000

I am so happy for you Suzanne! Congrats! Fresh eggs are the best. As posted earlier by someone…chickens really prefer a dark place to lay. I put a little flap in the front of my nesting boxes. They lay under the nesting boxes in the dark if they are full. I love the pride they take when they lay an egg. They carry on quite a bit here.

By: Rebecca V

Rebecca V — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 00:33:27 +0000

Congratulations on the eggs!!

If I remember correctly, those are chicken eggs. My parents have raised different kinds of birds all my life. The last batch of chickens died off several years ago. (My older brother brought them home as eggs, along with some ducks, and my parents wound up caring for them.) I don’t remember the breeds of the chickens, but I do remember them laying mostly brown eggs. The first few eggs ever laid were that same golden color. I don’t know which hen did it since I didn’t get to see the eggs until my mother had washed them. After that, the rest of the eggs I ever got to see were normal shades of brown.

By: Mim

Mim — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 21:57:35 +0000

They must be duck eggs. Congrats! I’m sooo jealous. My Hens are only 9 weeks old. Ten more weeks? How can I possibly wait that long?

By: Maureen

Maureen — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 15:16:44 +0000

Congratulations on the eggs!! I hope you soon have dozens.

By: Dru

Dru — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 13:34:22 +0000

Congratulations on the eggs. I hope you will find more soon.

By: lola falana

lola falana — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 12:39:26 +0000

Suzanne,

One other thing. I think a photo you posted once of your nest boxes showed morning sun shining directly into them. This will also deter the chickens’ use of them.

One more thing, when you pick the hens up, you standing behind them should place one hand over each wing and pick up. Set them in the box without changing your hold. This keeps them from flapping about and upsetting themselves.

Good luck,

By: lola falana

lola falana — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 12:23:19 +0000

Suzanne, this may help you get your chickens to lay in the laying boxes. In the morning, before laying time, go out and speak in friendly tones to them, pick each hen up and set her in a nest. Say encouraging things (of course they can’t understand but cue off the tones in your voice). Don’t worry if they jump back out. Just keep doing it every morning before laying time until they catch on. Do this calmly and gently, you don’t want them to associate upset with the boxes. You may need to place a ramp to the boxes, or not. Sometimes once they figure out where they are, they will fly up to them. How high are they, BTW? It appears you have straw on the floor where they are now laying. You may want to remove that before laying time (You can put it back down in the afternoon). They naturally will seek out straw/nest-like areas to lay in. They will also seek privacy. How private are your nest boxes? For ex., is Coco able to antagonize them anywhere near the boxes? Nothing against Coco of course. Also, once the morning’s laying has commenced, leave them to their privacy.

Hope this helps.

Signed, A Chicken Lover (but not in no weird way…)

By: Ang.

Ang. — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 02:58:48 +0000

Yay! My April hens and ducks are just starting to lay, too. Are you sure they aren’t duck eggs? You ducks look like they might have Khaki Campbell in them. They can lay eggs that color and they are about the size of a medium size egg. Ducks also lay on the floor. So if you ducks are in with your chickens consider the possibility. Regardless, make an omlet and enjoy your eggs!

By: Patty

Patty — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 01:29:46 +0000

Dang, now I’m hungry. I think a run to the 24 hour-Breakfast-anytime-diner is in order!

By: Quasi

Quasi — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 23:56:25 +0000

Forget the eggs…it’s the chickens that look delish!