because I am so fascinated with my chickens and their behavior...
They just started laying about 2 1/2 weeks ago, and I am getting about 3 eggs a day from 12 hens, so I have been on a quest to see who is laying. My daughter and I looked at their vents and placed our best guesses. Yesterday, one of my PR's was in the nesting box when I went in to do chores in the morning, and I sat and watched her do nothing for as long as I could before I had to leave.
This morning, she was in there again, and I was determined to see what she was up to. I have read here about their "egg song", but never heard it, as mine have been laying when I am at work. I have a ping pong ball in one of the nest boxes and she was in that box. She laid there for quite long time, then let out a long low squak and stood up and looked at herself. Still no egg, so she pushed the ppball underneath her and shimmied herself back down onto it. A few minutes later, the same long low squak, and the same standing up and looking at her underside... Still no egg, push the ppball, shimmy down again.
She was starting to attract the attention of some of the others now, and they were crowding around the nesting box taking turns peeking at her. After what seemed like forever, she stood up, and I swear I could see her pushing, and out plops a nice brown egg!
She stood over it for quite a while, then laid herself back down over the egg and the ppball. I went over and petted her and told her what a good chicken she was as I reached under her and took her egg. She stayed in the box with the ppball...
I made myself late for work so I could watch her lay her egg!!! Good thing I'm the boss...
They just started laying about 2 1/2 weeks ago, and I am getting about 3 eggs a day from 12 hens, so I have been on a quest to see who is laying. My daughter and I looked at their vents and placed our best guesses. Yesterday, one of my PR's was in the nesting box when I went in to do chores in the morning, and I sat and watched her do nothing for as long as I could before I had to leave.
This morning, she was in there again, and I was determined to see what she was up to. I have read here about their "egg song", but never heard it, as mine have been laying when I am at work. I have a ping pong ball in one of the nest boxes and she was in that box. She laid there for quite long time, then let out a long low squak and stood up and looked at herself. Still no egg, so she pushed the ppball underneath her and shimmied herself back down onto it. A few minutes later, the same long low squak, and the same standing up and looking at her underside... Still no egg, push the ppball, shimmy down again.
She was starting to attract the attention of some of the others now, and they were crowding around the nesting box taking turns peeking at her. After what seemed like forever, she stood up, and I swear I could see her pushing, and out plops a nice brown egg!
I made myself late for work so I could watch her lay her egg!!! Good thing I'm the boss...
