First time layer and new to chickens HELP!!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roberts2100 

We bought 10 chickens 6 are tetra tint and the others are white leg horns. Well we have one TT (Speedy) laying in the nesting boxes but none of the others are laying. Or if they are maybe they are laying under our deck. But I can't see every far under the deck. What should I do should I put a cover around the deck so they can't go under the deck. Also when speedy lays her eggs she makes a whole lot of noise bwak bwak bwak cluck bwak bwak bwak. Is that normal? Then poof there is an egg in the box. Should all the chickens start laying now? Speedy has the most wattles. But I bought them all at the same time.

Hens will cackle loudly when they are laying eggs. Some call it the egg song. It is normal. Do you hear any of the hens making this noise under your deck?

How old are your pullets or hens? Most breeds start laying eggs somewhere around 5 months old.

I take it you have a coop, since you mentioned nesting boxes. Do you have a run connected to your coop? Maybe you could try keeping them in the coop and run for a few days so they get in the habit of laying eggs in the nesting boxes. That is, if the other hens are laying eggs. If they are young, maybe they just haven't started laying yet.

yep the egg song, love that sound lol. I would put your birds in a pen until they start laying if there all around the same age. you do not want rotten eggs under your porch. soon they will know to go into the nests to lay, but right now there going to lay every where if there not trained. 

x2 and You may also want to put some fake ceramic eggs or golf balls in the nesting box so, they all get the idea where to lay. The fake eggs also help them to learn not to peck and break eggs. Egg eating is a hard habit to break once they start doing it so, the fake eggs help discourage this habit.  The hens combs get very red/pink and swell when they get really close to laying age. Good Luck

Unfortunately, I won't be expecting eggs until September :-[ Does anyone have any audio/video of their hen's "egg song"? I would love to hear what it sounds like.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DKUPshTclI&feature=related

Chicken singing her 'egg song'

But this is my favorite:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PENJxl-THS8&feature=related

What a joyful noise!

As I have read on here, if your chickies free range much, they may once in a while find other hiding spots for their eggs. You will just need to keep an ear out for the egg song coming from places other than the coop, which could bring other surprises if your girls have contact with a roo. If it were my deck and I couldn't see under it or at least reach under there, I would close it off, maybe just the deepest darkest places, so birds don't get "lost" under there, but still leave the part that you can see and reach open for chicken shade and emergency shelter from predators and the elements.

Many people suggest placing at least one golf ball or fake egg in each nest. A hen may peck it, but it will hurt her beak. This way the hens do not start eating eggs. This also gives the hens a hint about where they are supposed to lay eggs.

Have you tried keeping the hens in the coop and run for a while to get a better idea about which hens are laying and to help the hens learn where they should lay eggs?
 

http://www.amazon.com/Good-Wood-Recyclable-Carton-childs/dp/B000VM4SAU/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1340706963&sr=8-8&keywords=fake+eggs