Crop and laying

[chooky]

Hello!

I have 5 ISA browns and 4 are now laying. They free range in my backyard all day, and have made a little nest in the yard, totally giving the finger to my nesting boxes in the coop. For a week, one chook would jump up and lay her egg on my bbq, but now she (and the other 3) all lay in the same spot. It is quite funny to see them practically line up. One got so sick of waiting that she squeezed in with another of the girls, i don't know how they managed it, the area is really only big enough for one! Anyway...

One chook isn't laying, and i'm thinking it may be this one...

this is what the others look like;

Does crop have anything to do with it? I think i was told on here that it did, but the guy at the fodder store said differently.

 

[Marie1234]

The crop is the area of the throat where food is stored and ground before continuing to the digestive tract. The red things are comb and waddles. Is that what you are talking about? For a laying hen the comb is brighter than a non laying hen and size and shape depends on breed. I'd give her a few weeks to catch up and not worry about it.
If you want to get them laying in the coop you will have to leave them locked in there until 2pm for a while 'till they get the hint. In the long run it will make your life easier if you know that you will be able to find your eggs and where. It also could be that your odd girl is laying where you haven't found them. I had one that climbed under my truck and dropped her eggs on top of the engine. Thought my truck was kicking the bucket because of the smell when I was driving down the road one day.
As for the crowded nesting spot...fun to watch, isn't it! It's one of the quirks in chickens that keep us happily cleaning up the coop just to get a look at them.
Good luck!

 

[Break an Egg]

The first pic of the one you suspect of not laying is younger than the others. She will eventually lay.

 

[chooky]

ah, yes, i meant comb not crop.

I will try and keep them locked up til 2pm then... They just look so keen to get out in the morning. They are not going to be pleased with me!

 

[Marie1234]

After a few weeks they will get with the program and then even when you let them out in the morning they will go back to the coop to lay.