Are my birds hiding eggs or am I just impatient?

[akf93]

I will bet they are not laying yet. Usually about the time you have given up all hope. I sometimes think that hoping for an egg, keeps them from laying, haha!

Go down and sit with them, watch them, they explore the nests for weeks before they lay. When did they get really bright red in the combs? About 4 weeks later. If they are squatting for you, about 2 weeks later.

Mrs K

Haha that’s how it feels! I kept them locked up for an extra three hours this morning and not a single egg. My duck hen has been accepting one of my drakes for about a month. I can’t remember when their combs brightened. But a couple of them did just start squatting in the past couple days. So hopefully soon!

 

[Ridgerunner]

With those one could have started laying by 16 weeks or it may still be a while before the first one lays. You never know what will happen. I once had three that did not lay their first egg for nine months. Trust me, I understand the frustration.

You might check their vents. If the vent is dry and tight they are not laying. If the vent is soft, open, and looks a bit damp they are laying or getting real close to laying. I trust this more than the finger width test. Once you see the difference it is obvious.

If you have a run around the coop you can try locking them in the run with access to the coop. That might make it easier to look for a hidden nest. But a hidden nest doesn't have to be out in the mosquitoes and poison ivy, some people have found hidden nests with a lot of eggs in what they thought as a pretty open coop. They can be really creative about hiding those nests.

Good luck. this can be really frustrating.

 

[akf93]

Do they sing their egg song near the nest? Two of them were just going crazy just inside the woods so I ran out to check and I can’t find anything!!

 

[akf93]

You guys!!!!!! Rose, my egg song singer, laid the first egg just a few minutes ago!!