I've been watching and noting a behavior from Penny (my 24 week old Easter Egger) that I've finally figured out.
My hens have 2 places they like to lay eggs. I have been collecting eggs before noon sets in and the day gets hot.
I started noticing that Penny would go to the nest I just left and make sounds that sound kind of distressed. Then, she started following me when I headed to a nest and making those sounds as we went. Today, I collected one egg, and as I was closing the nesting box back door, Penny came right up to me. I slipped the egg into my pocket and squatted down to pet her, but she was more interested in finding the egg she knew I took. She then went right up into the nesting boxes and made the distress sounds. I opened the door and put the egg back, she immediately calmed down and sat on it. She doesn't sit on any eggs all day, but she very clearly does not want them being taken.
I suspect my Speckled Sussex and one of my Sapphire Gems are also in on this, they don't make the distress call and come right up to me, but they do watch me and I know theyre talking shit about me, lol!
Any advice would be appreciated. I've already tried fake eggs. She doesn't fall for that.
My hens have 2 places they like to lay eggs. I have been collecting eggs before noon sets in and the day gets hot.
I started noticing that Penny would go to the nest I just left and make sounds that sound kind of distressed. Then, she started following me when I headed to a nest and making those sounds as we went. Today, I collected one egg, and as I was closing the nesting box back door, Penny came right up to me. I slipped the egg into my pocket and squatted down to pet her, but she was more interested in finding the egg she knew I took. She then went right up into the nesting boxes and made the distress sounds. I opened the door and put the egg back, she immediately calmed down and sat on it. She doesn't sit on any eggs all day, but she very clearly does not want them being taken.
I suspect my Speckled Sussex and one of my Sapphire Gems are also in on this, they don't make the distress call and come right up to me, but they do watch me and I know theyre talking shit about me, lol!
Any advice would be appreciated. I've already tried fake eggs. She doesn't fall for that.