Crazy question??!!

[isa25]

I've been watching my hens for the last 2 weeks as the egg production has been getting underway.

This morning I hear the egg song so of course I came a runnin and found 2 hens still in boxes and another one standing on the roost in between them just pacing. So I waited and about an hour later my husband went out there and came back to tell me that the end box still had the hen in it but I should check under her. I did and found 2 eggs!! Did she do that or did the pacing hen replace the other one and I just didn't notice. Those are the two that look the most alike. Is it possible that she just felt the need to take care of the other egg also?? She is still sitting there now with the eggs gone! They are Isa's btw.

I just think they did a swap on me but the hubby thinks otherwise so I am just looking for the experts answer.

 

[AmyBella]

My girls are just getting started too... It is so egg-citing!

I think that all three of those hens had an egg for you and they were jockying for their favorite spot to lay them. I am no expert though! It amazes me that people can tell which eggs come from which chickens and such. I can barely tell my chickens apart!

 

[isa25]

My thoughts too but you know the hubby.

I can tell my isa's apart because they all have something different with their coloring(except these 2). I also got the 4 bigger girls for easter presents for my girls and the other 21 were gotten from TSC when they had them for 50 cents a piece during chic days. The last 21 are just starting up with production.

 

[Camelot Farms]

The other hen snuck in and laid her egg right after the first.

Mine do it all of the time

 

[Happy Chooks]

Quote:
Yup, what Camelot said.

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
Yep, I have a hen that will sit on the roost and holler if someone is in her favorite nestbox. She rushes them out and takes their place.

 

[Luvmybob]

I have 5 nests, one for each pullet to lay comfortably but they will wait in line for whichever nest got laid in first...if that girl doesn't move in time they will lay an egg infront of that nest(after protesting to no avail)...they are like children, mine mine mine...lol

 

[nikki24]

This is awesome! I just got my first egg yesturday and the second today.I have 31 ISA browns also.I have 24 boxes for them and about 4 boxes show that someones been nesting.Do you guys think it's the one that is laying first or do I have a few lookin for a box? I am so happy they are getting started.We built these boxes a little over a month ago thinking they were getting ready and all they have done til now is poop in them!Now I have 2 eggs!
If they use the same box will they break the first egg that was there?I think it's great that those of us just getting started with chickens can talk to those who have been doing this for years. Thanks for all the help!

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
Generally they don't break the eggs of the former occupant unless there is just too too much activity in the box.
They do seem to prefer the box that the first layer of the day used.
I've had up to 13 eggs in one nestbox (their absolute favorite box) and not one broken. Each hen climbs in, arranges the clutch of eggs under her carefully and then adds hers to the collection.
ETA: I've also had up to three hens using one box at the same time. I still laugh thinking about Lilith (my lowest ranking hen) laying her egg on the back of one of the two hens that got to the box first.

 

[BroomFarm]

Ours started laying about a week ago and we're getting 1-3 eggs per day from 5 hens. So far, all of the eggs have been laid in the same nest, but it's not in ANY of the nest boxes, it's on the floor of the coop, under the boxes! We've tried stirring up the litter, placing a small board over where they build the nest and keep putting the girls into the nest boxes...nothing has worked, so far. This morning we arranged several boards on the floor so they cannot build a nest in that spot. I'm also going to change the roost bar in front of the nest boxes, as I know it is too narrow (1/2") and that might be why they're not jumping up there to get in the boxes.