Broody Hen?

[MaryZoe]

It could just be that she (and maybe a pal) preferred to lay outside the box. When you thought she was not laying, she actually was...just where you just found the eggs, rather than in her nesting box. You'll know if she's broody--she will sit on her eggs all day in a trance-like state, getting up only briefly to eat and drink. And then she will cluck and puff herself up, warning everyone away from her. None of my flock messes with the broodies, not even the roo!

 

[Tim Nutter]

Sounds like you have a mysterious hen!

There probably is a record of how many eggs a hen could lay in a day, but it is almost impossible for a hen or two to lay six eggs in one day. I am assuming either your other hens (if so?) Started to lay... Or they have been there a bit longer.



We shall see tomorrow!

Have a nice evening!
-Angry Hen

. I know right! Have a good one!

 

[MaryZoe]

I think I read your original post wrong. I Now see that she did lay in the box--but I have to agree with other posters. It seems unlikely that your one hen laid 6 eggs. Even the coloring suggests that different hens laid in the same box, and you just caught the last to lay. How old are the 3 that are not supposed to be laying? You can check their vents to see if they may have started to lay.

 

[sawilliams]

Judging by the picture, at least 2 different hens laid eggs. You have 4 light brown and 2 tan (almost pinkish).

It's not common but not impossible for some hens to lay 2 eggs at a time especially if things got backed up a bit. But i would say 6 is highly unlikely.

I'm wondering what you mean by only 2 are laying? Only 2 that you have confirmed? Only 2 that are old enough? What are all thier ages? I'm thinking more likely you have a few that are laying occasionally and all happened to decide to lay the same day. Or you have a chicken hiding eggs

 

[Tim Nutter]

I think I read your original post wrong. I Now see that she did lay in the box--but I have to agree with other posters. It seems unlikely that your one hen laid 6 eggs. Even the coloring suggests that different hens laid in the same box, and you just caught the last to lay. How old are the 3 that are not supposed to be laying? You can check their vents to see if they may have started to lay.

They are between 18 and 24 weeks so they are old enough to lay but haven’t seen sign of it yet and I wouldn’t think they would all start in the same day at the same time but something fishey went on lol

 

[Tim Nutter]

Judging by the picture, at least 2 different hens laid eggs. You have 4 light brown and 2 tan (almost pinkish).

It's not common but not impossible for some hens to lay 2 eggs at a time especially if things got backed up a bit. But i would say 6 is highly unlikely.

I'm wondering what you mean by only 2 are laying? Only 2 that you have confirmed? Only 2 that are old enough? What are all thier ages? I'm thinking more likely you have a few that are laying occasionally and all happened to decide to lay the same day. Or you have a chicken

Judging by the picture, at least 2 different hens laid eggs. You have 4 light brown and 2 tan (almost pinkish).

It's not common but not impossible for some hens to lay 2 eggs at a time especially if things got backed up a bit. But i would say 6 is highly unlikely.

I'm wondering what you mean by only 2 are laying? Only 2 that you have confirmed? Only 2 that are old enough? What are all thier ages? I'm thinking more likely you have a few that are laying occasionally and all happened to decide to lay the same day. Or you have a chicken hiding eggs

I have 2 that I bought and where already laying the rest where chicks when I bought them but they are now between 18-24 weeks so they are at the laying age for sure but haven’t seen any sign of multiple eggs till today

 

[MaryZoe]

Do you have a spouse/partner with a sense of humor? My hubby once dyed eggs blue and stuck them in the nest when I was running out every day, waiting for my Ameraucana to start laying. The funny thing thing was that my lady decided to lay that day, too, so I ended up with two blue eggs!

 

[Tim Nutter]

She also laid them outside they free range in the yard she laid under her favorite bush I always check for eggs there as well because she is always hanging out under it

 

[Tim Nutter]

Do you have a spouse/partner with a sense of humor? My hubby once dyed eggs blue and stuck them in the nest when I was running out every day, waiting for my Ameraucana to start laying. The funny thing thing was that my lady decided to lay that day, too, so I ended up with two blue eggs!

Lol no I don’t have that problem but sounds like a fun prank

 

[aart]

She also laid them outside they free range in the yard she laid under her favorite bush I always check for eggs there as well because she is always hanging out under it

Might be a good idea to confine them to coop and run to 'train' them to lay in the coop nests....unless you like the daily egg hunt and missing the nest(s) you don't find.

Free range birds sometimes need to be 'trained'(or re-trained) to lay in the coop nests, especially new layers. Leaving them locked in the coop for 3-4 days (or longer) can help 'home' them to lay in the coop nests. Fake eggs/golf balls in the nests can help 'show' them were to lay. They can be confined to coop 24/7 for a few days to a week, or confine them at least until mid to late afternoon. You help them create a new habit and they will usually stick with it. ..at least for a good while, then repeat as necessary.