new ones need to be locked up afaik for some amount of time to lock in your location as "home".
but realistically we probably lose some, especially if we have too many males. I assume they move on. I've started paying more attention in the past couple years so I'll learn more. I agree that...
currently I have hens laying eggs between the barn & a sheet of styrofoam, between the garage and a folding table, and under a flipped over canoe. plus the lovely ladies who actually use the nest boxes. 🥳
I'm telling you, they're great egg hiders. I've always thought having a kid go on an egg hunt would be the only realistic way to find them. Childhood wonder and what not.
I think some people missed your point in your first post that this is obviously not for everyone and it's just a cool experiment for you.
I dont know the level of broodiness of those breeds, but if theyve had broodiness bred out of them, I suspect you will have random piles of rotting eggs and...
My birds free range during the day - not the entire day because I'm not an early riser but good enough. I close the coop at night for those who roost in there because if a predator gets in, the walls and roof will prevent the birds from escaping as they would in a true wild setting.
My older...
youd be surprised how hard it is to find their hidden nests, even if you do some general poking around haha.
how many accidental clutches of chicks have you had? ;)