- Jun 7, 2012
- 8
- 0
- 9
I have a NH Red who has taken to spending long periods in the nesting boxes, including overnight until we started covering them up before bedtime. (Roost-time?) I am also fairly certain that she is one who has been laying weak-shelled eggs, which then get squashed beneath her.
Her eggs seemed to have been getting stronger now that we've been keeping the flock in their run and not letting them free range.
Since we''re gone most of the day, it's hard to tell if she's in there 24/7. She's hopped up on the perch no problem. Come morning though, she's right back in place as soon as she's eaten and we've removed the obstacles to boxes.
She does come out for treats, food and scratching around, and seems about middle on the pecking order.
However we are still getting the occasional weak egg, as evidenced by a wet yolky spot in the nest today. Perhaps it's her, or perhaps she's just the one squashing it. She is most definitely the one pooping on them. Had to toss an otherwise lovely egg yesterday as it was crowned with a giant glob. Yech.
Thoughts? Flockwatcher had some good suggestions as to maybe she's being bullied or has a sore foot or hip (doesn't seem to be favoring either) but I think those are ruled out.
Her eggs seemed to have been getting stronger now that we've been keeping the flock in their run and not letting them free range.
Since we''re gone most of the day, it's hard to tell if she's in there 24/7. She's hopped up on the perch no problem. Come morning though, she's right back in place as soon as she's eaten and we've removed the obstacles to boxes.
She does come out for treats, food and scratching around, and seems about middle on the pecking order.
However we are still getting the occasional weak egg, as evidenced by a wet yolky spot in the nest today. Perhaps it's her, or perhaps she's just the one squashing it. She is most definitely the one pooping on them. Had to toss an otherwise lovely egg yesterday as it was crowned with a giant glob. Yech.
Thoughts? Flockwatcher had some good suggestions as to maybe she's being bullied or has a sore foot or hip (doesn't seem to be favoring either) but I think those are ruled out.
