Aml91
Chirping
- Jun 11, 2023
- 33
- 32
- 54
Hello,
My first three hens (Barred Rock) are 20 weeks old. In week 19 one laid an egg in a nest of her own choice, then for about a week she laid in the nesting box in the coop. I tried keeping them in the coop longer in the mornings, and that was working. Then one morning we found them pecking a floppy shell in the box, like one had laid a soft egg then they ate it. I think they may have eaten a hard shell egg as well. Now a second hen has laid once in the coop, but the first one doesn't seem to be layint regularly.
I'm trying to balance between keeping them from eating the eggs and training them to lay where I want. I'm home a lot anyway, but we do have vacation in a few weeks. Any ideas how to train them to lay without letting them start bad habits too?
My first three hens (Barred Rock) are 20 weeks old. In week 19 one laid an egg in a nest of her own choice, then for about a week she laid in the nesting box in the coop. I tried keeping them in the coop longer in the mornings, and that was working. Then one morning we found them pecking a floppy shell in the box, like one had laid a soft egg then they ate it. I think they may have eaten a hard shell egg as well. Now a second hen has laid once in the coop, but the first one doesn't seem to be layint regularly.
I'm trying to balance between keeping them from eating the eggs and training them to lay where I want. I'm home a lot anyway, but we do have vacation in a few weeks. Any ideas how to train them to lay without letting them start bad habits too?