- Thread starter
- #211
- Jun 2, 2011
- 5,346
- 218
- 291
SCMB - your girls are SOOOOOOO close to laying. Mine started by going into the nesting box, scrabbling around, and moving the dummy eggs, maybe three or four days before I got an egg from them. Up until then they never ever went into them, just not interesting, I guess.
You asked if they always lay in the morning - I'm afraid not (that would make life simple, wouldn't it!!!). However, all my girls started laying early in the morning. It then gets progressively later in the morning, moves about an hour on each day. When they start laying mid-afternoon, they then skip one day and go back to early in the morning.
I was lucky - once they had already laid a few in the nesting box, they returned to it even when they were out free ranging, which they do from about 2.30pm onwatrds till bedtime. Currently 7.30pm here as sun sets about 8.30pm. So, amazingly they return to the coop and the box to lay if they need to do it in the afternoon. I have read people having problems with them laying in secret spots in the garden - but I think that mostly happens when they are broody and they want to hide the eggs so you don't remove them. Anyway, my girls have been super smart and done the right thing - so far!
I bet any day now you will tell us you've had your first egg. I shall here the celebration from here, I think.
This is exactly what I needed to hear beforeI set out for a full day of Christmas shopping! I was just tellind DH that he should leave them in until after lunch to see if we get our RIR to have that all anticipated egg from our RIR. I think she'll be the one. Duke wouldn't leave the poor girl alone yesterday, maybe he knows something. Did you leave yours in the run while waiting? Yesterday I kept them in until 3:30pm, then let them out for the few hours till they head in at 4:45pm.
8:30 for you? You are on the far side of the world to me then eh? Friday is the Solstice... my extra 3 seconds of daylight thta you'll be losing..maybe that will inspire her! Very cold here in New York today.
You are right,,,you will hear the celebration from here!
Thanks!
MB