Phoenixsw
Chirping
Ok, I have an odd situation that I wonder if anyone has ever experienced. Here is the odd tale.
I have 5 girls. 3 that are 11 months, a BO, SF, and SS and 2 that are 10 months, and EE and a WS.
In Aug and Sept of last yr, the BO, SS and EE started laying. Then they had a mini molt in Nov-Dec (only lost some neck and chest feathers), during which time they stopped laying, as expected. Now, during this time, the SF and WS decided to start laying. They layed an egg every couple of days (it's winter after all). I was very excited to have all 5 laying.
My excitment was premature.
Apparently once the 3 molters began laying again, the other 2 stopped! Now, they never layed the eggs in the nest, but on the coop floor next to it under the poop tray. (Which, on a side note, made the others stop laying in the nest and start laying on the floor once they started again.) I have since been able to get the 3 original layers back to laying in the nest, but still nothing from the other 2.
Since they free range in my backyard (fenced), I have searched high and low and in every nook and cranny and under and in everything I can find in the yard, run, and coop, and nothing, no eggs. They are both squatting and their combs are both bright red, they eat the same diet as the others, and so should still be laying, so I am at a loss.
Has anyone heard of this odd behavior before?
I have 5 girls. 3 that are 11 months, a BO, SF, and SS and 2 that are 10 months, and EE and a WS.
In Aug and Sept of last yr, the BO, SS and EE started laying. Then they had a mini molt in Nov-Dec (only lost some neck and chest feathers), during which time they stopped laying, as expected. Now, during this time, the SF and WS decided to start laying. They layed an egg every couple of days (it's winter after all). I was very excited to have all 5 laying.
My excitment was premature.
Apparently once the 3 molters began laying again, the other 2 stopped! Now, they never layed the eggs in the nest, but on the coop floor next to it under the poop tray. (Which, on a side note, made the others stop laying in the nest and start laying on the floor once they started again.) I have since been able to get the 3 original layers back to laying in the nest, but still nothing from the other 2.
Since they free range in my backyard (fenced), I have searched high and low and in every nook and cranny and under and in everything I can find in the yard, run, and coop, and nothing, no eggs. They are both squatting and their combs are both bright red, they eat the same diet as the others, and so should still be laying, so I am at a loss.
Has anyone heard of this odd behavior before?