chicken eggs

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csargent27

csargent27

In the Brooder
7 Years
May 4, 2012
15
1
22
we have 6 chickens and we let them out during the day and they hide when they want to lay an egg between me and my parents we have found a number of eggs hidden under rocks, our shed and our deck and under some other things. we are new at having chickens getting them last year. so I am wondering how long they last outside. We also have a problem with our rhode island red chickens picking on our black chickens they will get on top of them and pecking their heads. does anyone have any advise for me and how to stop the pecking of each other
thanks
 
Welcome to BYC from BC!

I'm a newbie myself, but from what I've heard, this is the normal behavior in the pecking order. If it gets out of hand, with some getting hurt, you can separate them for about a week. This will knock the bullies out of the pecking order. It's kinda like a reset button.

As for the egg laying in random places..... Not sure. Is it the same places, or different places all the time?
 
welcome-byc.gif
from New Mexico!

Yes, there is going to be a normal pecking order and the head hancho's are going to keep the others in line. However it should never get bloody or too abusive. If it does get to that point, the aggressor or aggressors need to be separated a while so the pecking order re establishes itself. If somebody gets truly out of hand, you can always rehome them or use "pinless peepers" on them. I have had great success with "peepers", keeps beaks where they belong and off the combs and feathers.

As far as eggs being layed all over the place, you might want to retrain your birds to lay in the nest boxes in their coop. Keep them locked their run for a week or so. Keep fake eggs in the boxes and once they get used to using the boxes, they should return even while free ranging to lay them there.

Good luck!
 
thanks for the advise our chickens are laying in different spots all the time if we find their hiding spot they will change where they lay the eggs
 
thanks for the advise our chickens are different ages and I think we will try the separation idea and hopefully it will work
 
how long do eggs stay fresh outside under rocks and other buildings if they are covered up with leaves
 

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