Chicken searching for her egg

[Giaallen]

This morning one of my chickens (she’s a newbie to laying eggs) climbed up on our patio furniture, under some cushions and laid an egg. She turned around and kinda pecked at it so I took it and put it in the fridge. She’s now been searching for that egg like crazy. I’m worried I took it too soon? What should I do?!? Put an egg back? Or what.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

No don't put the egg back. How do you know she's looking for the egg?

 

[CluckerFamily]

Don't put it back.
Mine look for the egg after first laying. They are curious and are a little confused. Most of my chickens could care less about the egg being gone. But I've noticed the ones that continue to look for the egg after months of laying (eventually they stop looking), tend to be my broody hens later on or the loud hens that need to tell the whole neighborhood that they have done the impossible and laid an egg.

 

[Giaallen]

No don't put the egg back. How do you know she's looking for the egg?

She is jumping up and down off the couch searching in between the cushions for it. She stopped now. So weird.

 

[Giaallen]

Don't put it back.
Mine look for the egg after first laying. They are curious and are a little confused. Most of my chickens could care less about the egg being gone. But I've noticed the ones that continue to look for the egg after months of laying (eventually they stop looking), tend to be my broody hens later on or the loud hens that need to tell the whole neighborhood that they have done the impossible and laid an egg.

Maybe she was just confused. Who knows with this girl. She seems
Ok now.

 

[Giaallen]

Ok so strange. I did put the egg back for a little while. I’m can only assume a different chicken climbed up onto the couch where I put the egg and laid her egg there too. What the heck?!?!? Ordered some ceramic eggs in hopes that I can deter this spot as an egg laying spot and they go back to the coop. I guess we have 3 layers and two of them are dingalings and think the couch is a great spot.

 

[CluckerFamily]

They will lay in the darnedest areas. Once they start laying they do tend to lay in the same spot or same nesting box for the rest of their lives. If a nesting box is occupied... my girls will loudly wait for their turn of the nesting box. If they continue to lay an egg on the couch, you may need to consider locking them in the coop with the ceramic eggs for some time (if the weather isn't hot).

 

[Giaallen]

They will lay in the darnedest areas. Once they start laying they do tend to lay in the same spot or same nesting box for the rest of their lives. If a nesting box is occupied... my girls will loudly wait for their turn of the nesting box. If they continue to lay an egg on the couch, you may need to consider locking them in the coop with the ceramic eggs for some time (if the weather isn't hot).

It’s really interesting for sure to watch this whole situation play out. We are new to chickens so this is the first time we have experienced this. They sure do have quite the personalities. We have 4 but only 3 layers right now. I think our buff Orpington is just about to lay though. We shall see! Hopefully not on the couch

 

[aart]

Yeah, put those fake eggs in the coop nests, and......
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 a week or so 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 and maybe run 24/7 for a few days to a week, provided you have adequate space and ventilation, 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.

 

[Coops Dad]

Each of mine has their own favorite place but at least a few will lay wherever their muse falls upon them. One made her way into an outbuilding and laid an egg on the seat of my tractor. She also lays in the dust wallows, under the BBQ grill, in the flowerbed next to the back door, etc. Others will queu up for their turn in that ONE BEST box in the double decker six place of nesting boxes. Still others will climb in on top of another bird to lay their egg in/on/around the current occupant.