Crowing Hens and HIding Eggs

[neuchicontheblock]

I have 3 Americanus hens nicely grown with 2 that are crowing-like in the morning, though not everyday. And they all are hiding eggs since they free range in the daytime. What is happening? They are all healthy and funny to watch but I would like breakfast!

 

[Lollipop]

They need a rooster and to be locked up in their pen with a nest box containing a nest egg for a week or so. If you don`t mind the crowing, skip the rooster......Pop

 

[jayde88]

About the crowing, dominate hens crow sometimes when there is no rooster. If you don't want your hens crowing, then maybe they will stop if you get a rooster that can take care of the crowing.
About the eggs, make sure you have nest boxes filled with lots of fresh straw. But golf balls or plastic easter eggs in the nest boxes to encourage them to lay in the nestboxes.
You might want to build them a pen or just a temperary pen that you can remove if you prefer them to be free range after they get the idea.

Also, are you sure they are hens? They might be roosters that look hen-like, that would explain the crowing and lack of eggs...

 

[neuchicontheblock]

Thank you. Now they are talking to the llamas. If I knew that chickens were so funny, I would of gotten some years ago!

 

[cmom]

Quote:
I agree. I shut my birds in in the beginning for a couple of days. I put a golf ball in each nest box. They lay in the nest boxes.