I decided to give having chickens a go for the first time in over 20 years. My first experience was horrifying. I was young and had no experience raising chickens. But I lived in the country and decided to try. My local feed and seed had baby chick's in an I grabbed about 50. There was a nice size coop and run already on the property so that part was a breeze. Long story short raise them up to 6 months and didn't lose a single one. Then all hell broke loose about 3 nights on a row. Something was getting in the window and clipping their head off. Lost every single one....I was devistated.
Now I live in town and only allowed 6 hens. I bought 5 pullets that were 8 weeks old. Although my coop could easily hold 6 to 8 hens my run just wasn't big enough for 5. I designed it and my hubby built it for me. Letting two of my girls go was the only choice I could make. They were just reaching laying age and we're really big chickens. A co-worker of my husband's agreed to take them in and we carried them over. The run was very nice and large so I was relieved they would be well cared for there. We went by to see them and they seemed very happy so we're happy. Needless to say the coop is much calmer and happier.
My babies are starting to lay now they do their egg song and of course I go to check on them. Belinda and Glenda are my buff orpingtons and super friendly but Karot (americauna)has been a bit shy until the last few days. Whenever I go out to give them their treat she quickly runs up stair inside the coop and ask to be given hers there. Like a good chicken mommy I comply. lol The last two days when I put the treat in the coop she turns her back to me and sits for me to pet her. She's the sweetest thing. Sorry guys this is becoming a book. It's just that I have no one to brag to about my girls.
So now for the question finally. Haha my chickens have been burying their eggs in the run. Why are they doing that? They won't lay in the coop. We keep it very clean...well for a chicken coop and they have nice nesting boxes with clean excelsior in them. We keep food in there but not water because they like to make a huge mess with it. What can I do to get them to lay eggs in the coop? Thanks for all your help.
Now I live in town and only allowed 6 hens. I bought 5 pullets that were 8 weeks old. Although my coop could easily hold 6 to 8 hens my run just wasn't big enough for 5. I designed it and my hubby built it for me. Letting two of my girls go was the only choice I could make. They were just reaching laying age and we're really big chickens. A co-worker of my husband's agreed to take them in and we carried them over. The run was very nice and large so I was relieved they would be well cared for there. We went by to see them and they seemed very happy so we're happy. Needless to say the coop is much calmer and happier.
My babies are starting to lay now they do their egg song and of course I go to check on them. Belinda and Glenda are my buff orpingtons and super friendly but Karot (americauna)has been a bit shy until the last few days. Whenever I go out to give them their treat she quickly runs up stair inside the coop and ask to be given hers there. Like a good chicken mommy I comply. lol The last two days when I put the treat in the coop she turns her back to me and sits for me to pet her. She's the sweetest thing. Sorry guys this is becoming a book. It's just that I have no one to brag to about my girls.
So now for the question finally. Haha my chickens have been burying their eggs in the run. Why are they doing that? They won't lay in the coop. We keep it very clean...well for a chicken coop and they have nice nesting boxes with clean excelsior in them. We keep food in there but not water because they like to make a huge mess with it. What can I do to get them to lay eggs in the coop? Thanks for all your help.
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