April 2017 chicks, who will lay first contest...

[SueT]

I have 3 so 1 nest box should be fine. Except they are all nest hogs. Every time one goes in, she stays for over an hour. Even the freeloader!!!
Sometimes they go in a couple times in 1 day. Only lay once or none though.

Maybe that's just because they're young & inexperienced?? How long do hens normally hang out in the nest box to lay?

@adstowe
Congrats on your first egg! Such a cutie!!

Oh gosh, I have one hen that can hog the nest 3 or 4 hours. She's never gone broody. And after all those hours, there may be no egg. Another hen, no longer with us, did the same. They enjoy lounging and maybe sometimes it takes a while to get the egg out.
I think you may want to have at least 2 nests.

 

[adstowe]

[QUOTE="@adstowe
Congrats on your first egg! Such a cutie!![/QUOTE]

It's about time. Feeding 10 chickens, but only getting 2-3 eggs a day gets old after a while. Now I just need the other freeloaders to get on-board.

 

[peckpeckpeck]

Oh gosh, I have one hen that can hog the nest 3 or 4 hours. She's never gone broody. And after all those hours, there may be no egg. Another hen, no longer with us, did the same. They enjoy lounging and maybe sometimes it takes a while to get the egg out.
I think you may want to have at least 2 nests.

Wow really??
Each girl gets her own nest? High maintenance, aren't we ladies?

 

[SueT]

Wow really??
Each girl gets her own nest? High maintenance, aren't we ladies?

I actually have 5 nests for 8 girls. However, one nest, the one I've labelled Baltic Ave. has never been used, and another one is taken up by the broody Sebright. (She's on day 19!!!!! 2 days till hatching!!!!) So anyway, that leaves 3 nests for the 7 others.....Well, 2 pullets are not yet laying. I imagine when they are all laying, maybe even Baltic Ave will get used.

 

[kokosmom2]

I only got 4/9 today, but I have now let them out of their new coop into their new yard. They were having a blast. My dogs, on the other hand, were very distressed that they couldn't get to the chickens because I kept them locked up on the deck. Tomorrow will be the test to see if I got the new chicken yard protected from the high prey drive dog.

 

[tigger19687]

I only have 4 hens, only one of the 2 boxes gets used. She does in and is gone for mmmmm up to 1/2 hr? about that.
I only know because I hangout with them in the front yard when they are out there and Pecan left, squaking all the way, to go egg lay. And then didn't even lay in the box.
She kicked out the Fake egg but then went back to the roost and laid there.
thought I fixed that

 

[Bonniebooboo]

I have 11 pullets hatched out April 28-30. 3 EE's, 4 Buff orpington crosses, 1 California white cross, 3 Barred rock crosses. 2 of the EE's started laying on Sept 22,17, at about 20 weeks old. An all black barred cross was the first to turn red comb and breed on Sept. 3rd, but she has never laid an egg yet. Weird. Anyway I worked on some pictures for the past couple of days to show. I locked 2 up so I could make sure it was them, and one actually laid an egg while I was watching and the second laid one same nest and hour and a half later. I let them out a few minutes after they laid their egg and I marked eggs when laid. So here are a few pictures of my girls Speck,Muffin and their eggs.

Speck's eggs are a darker green, almost Olive. they are full sisters, Dam lays light blue eggs.

 

[peckpeckpeck]

Speck's eggs are a darker green, almost Olive. they are full sisters, Dam lays light blue eggs.

So pretty!!!
Makes me wish I had more than 1 EE.
I love how Muffin's eggs are different shades.

Today was 2/3 again
Kiwa's egg was a whopping 55gm! Pele is up to 40gm.
TangoTango is still squawking & squatting & monopolizing the nest box for nothing.

 

[Bonniebooboo]

So pretty!!!
Makes me wish I had more than 1 EE.
I love how Muffin's eggs are different shades.

Today was 2/3 again
Kiwa's egg was a whopping 55gm! Pele is up to 40gm.
TangoTango is still squawking & squatting & monopolizing the nest box for nothing.

Thank you! They do vary just a bit. That always amazes me. so far that is only 2/11 and I doubt I will ever get that 11/11 in a single day from the pullets. I am sure you will find yourself another EE to add to your girls. I have 2 more up and coming but they are only 8 weeks old now. I like your little egg picture. They are nice eggs..little Dino adds spice.

 

[tigger19687]

Fart egg