A century of Turkey talk 2000-2100.

[yesterDAYNE]

Anyone have issues with a hen who just can't settle down to lay? I have one hen who lays every other day, and she will literally walk around yelping and pacing for the entire day into bed time, until she just can't hold it anymore and drops it on the floor off her perch. I really hate that she has such a hard time finding somewhere comfortable! I've shown her both of my other hen's favorite nesting spots (enclosed, dark dog cage with straw, and then a slightly more lighter one on the side of the house with a board covering it), both have fake eggs (and real ones, throughout the day) in them, but she's blind in one eye so I figure she doesn't pay much attention to them in the first place. Do I need to try and figure out another new nesting box situation to see if she'd like that? Or are there just hens that are never satisfied with laying somewhere no matter how much time they have?

 

[R2elk]

Anyone have issues with a hen who just can't settle down to lay? I have one hen who lays every other day, and she will literally walk around yelping and pacing for the entire day into bed time, until she just can't hold it anymore and drops it on the floor off her perch. I really hate that she has such a hard time finding somewhere comfortable! I've shown her both of my other hen's favorite nesting spots (enclosed, dark dog cage with straw, and then a slightly more lighter one on the side of the house with a board covering it), both have fake eggs (and real ones, throughout the day) in them, but she's blind in one eye so I figure she doesn't pay much attention to them in the first place. Do I need to try and figure out another new nesting box situation to see if she'd like that? Or are there just hens that are never satisfied with laying somewhere no matter how much time they have?

I have a hen that is 3 this year. When she was one, she would lay her egg in pretty much the same spot in the run almost everyday. I happened to catch her doing it one day. She was walking along and did a quick semi squat as she dropped out an egg without even missing a step. Last year she only did it a couple of times before she found a nest to lay in. This year, she started out laying in a nest.

 

[yesterDAYNE]

I have a hen that is 3 this year. When she was one, she would lay her egg in pretty much the same spot in the run almost everyday. I happened to catch her doing it one day. She was walking along and did a quick semi squat as she dropped out an egg without even missing a step. Last year she only did it a couple of times before she found a nest to lay in. This year, she started out laying in a nest.

Huh, interesting! Mine is about 3 now too, the past 2 years if I remember right she was laying fine, she had a spot behind the garage she liked (which is still there, actually) where I'd always find her eggs. This year I guess it just isn't good enough for her, lol. She did just start laying again maybe a week ago so maybe she'll get it sorted out later in the season.

 

[Molpet]

Huh, interesting! Mine is about 3 now too, the past 2 years if I remember right she was laying fine, she had a spot behind the garage she liked (which is still there, actually) where I'd always find her eggs. This year I guess it just isn't good enough for her, lol. She did just start laying again maybe a week ago so maybe she'll get it sorted out later in the season.

Put a marked egg in the garage spot. Sometimes a bait egg works

 

[R2elk]

Huh, interesting! Mine is about 3 now too, the past 2 years if I remember right she was laying fine, she had a spot behind the garage she liked (which is still there, actually) where I'd always find her eggs. This year I guess it just isn't good enough for her, lol. She did just start laying again maybe a week ago so maybe she'll get it sorted out later in the season.

My hens rarely use the same nest two years in a row. I do seed desirable nest places with fake ceramic goose eggs. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.

 

[R2elk]

This evening's visitor.

 

[Molpet]

This evening's visitor.

I wonder if it's the same hen as last few years

 

[R2elk]

I wonder if it's the same hen as last few years

Yes, she is the same hen as the last 3 years.

 

[Bantambird]

Yes, she is the same hen as the last 3 years.

she must really love your toms and your turkey food.

 

[R2elk]

she must really love your toms and your turkey food.

Can't be the food, it is inside and she never goes inside.