Dumb question....

[DarleneE]

Hi!!
Question PLEASE!! My Barred Rock whose 20 weeks old, has JUST started laying eggs. The problem however is that Olivia, my Easter Egger will just NOT leave her alone when she's trying to lay an egg!!?? She will get in the nest WITH her and lay there or like today she was actually bobbing her head up and down over her (I couldn't actually SEE what she was doing) but it looked like she was pecking at her?? Is this odd behavior or what?? They're both same age, were hatched together etc etc.. Daisy I believe to be the "head bird" so to speak. Olivia simply CANNOT be without Daisy!! She screams like we're killing her when I have to separate them just for a couple minutes while I take them one by one to and from the coop to their outside pen!! She just goes INSANE!!?? What should I do about her getting in the nest and bothering Daisy.. or is this actually normal?? Maybe she's offering moral support!!?? Heeheeeheeee

 

[iwiw60]

I don't know about it being 'normal' behavior, but have you thought of using nest box curtains??

http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/search?q=nest+box+curtains


This just might be the ticket for the problem...ya never know!!

 

[DarleneE]

Well the thing is this.. I'm referring to the nest box outside in their daytime pen where they free range in. It's just one of those big plastic storage bins with an opening cut out for the door. I guess because of timing, since they're outside "playing" during a good part of the day, THAT is where she's laying. There's only ONE box.. I ONLY have the two hens and only the ONE is even laying so far.. In the nest boxes in their coop.. there ARE two of them and they have a petition...if need be I could put curtains in there very easily.. however, as I said.. due to timing, I really don't think she'll be laying in THAT nest very often as they're just not in there much during laying time. But thank you for the idea!!

 

[iwiw60]

Hmmm, that's kinda strange having a 'nest box' outside in their run....never heard of that before.....

 

[azygous]

Uh, yes. It's normal behavior. Laying an egg at my place is often times far from a private affair. Even though there are plenty of nest boxes, the hens seem to have the same favorites, and sometimes the nest is especially desirable if it's in use.

Sometimes two hens will double up and lay their eggs together. Very often a hen will be hovering and harassing the current occupant while she waits her turn in the nest box.

Then there was this scene the other day, more of a three ring circus than what most people picture the act of egg laying to be.

 

[DarleneE]

iwiw60,
They spend the greater part of their day in the fenced in area we've set-up for them. If I didn't have a nest box there, they'd be laying eggs all over the grass!!?? They DO NOT have access to their coop when they're outside!! This is a fenced in area of our backyard.. their coop is inside our screened lanai!! There's a very large distance between the two areas. I hand carry them back and forth to these areas. I take them out to the backyard at 8:00 and I take them back to their coop about 3:00!! But, they are completely enclosed in each of the two areas..they don't wander from one to the other. It's actually pretty common practice to have a nest box where they free range if they don't have access to their coop... I got it from one of the chicken sites.

 

[subhanalah]

I don't understand why you can't fashion a curtain over the opening of your plastic container nest box?
Maybe Olivia is just jealous that she's not laying yet.

 

[newchickmomma4]

I don't understand why you can't fashion a curtain over the opening of your plastic container nest box?
Maybe Olivia is just jealous that she's not laying yet.

Darlene, you could in fact hot glue a piece of fabric over the opening to your outside nesting box. But I do have to wonder if that will help. It sounds like this is more of a loneliness issue than anything else. Is there any possibility of adding another POL pullet or two to your flock to help Olivia from being lonely while Daisy is laying and vice versa when Olivia starts?

 

[iwiw60]

iwiw60,
They spend the greater part of their day in the fenced in area we've set-up for them. If I didn't have a nest box there, they'd be laying eggs all over the grass!!?? They DO NOT have access to their coop when they're outside!! This is a fenced in area of our backyard.. their coop is inside our screened lanai!! There's a very large distance between the two areas. I hand carry them back and forth to these areas. I take them out to the backyard at 8:00 and I take them back to their coop about 3:00!! But, they are completely enclosed in each of the two areas..they don't wander from one to the other. It's actually pretty common practice to have a nest box where they free range if they don't have access to their coop... I got it from one of the chicken sites.

OH!! Now I get it! Have you ever thought of a "chicken tunnel" ??

Believe it or not, chickens WILL use them...and think about it...no more hand-carrying back and forth for you!!

 

[DarleneE]

Heeeeheeeee hey that's pretty cool!! But NO I don't think that would work too well as it would probably be kinda unsightly going across our pool, deck etc etc.. Unless of course..if we got REALLY creative and did something REALLY cool looking that would actually enhance our yard?? Hmmmm Wheels are turning!! But, honestly and just for the record.. I don't mind a bit carrying them to and from. I have to be out there anyway to set up their food and water etc etc.. so it's no big deal, and I LOVE holding them!! The ONLY bad thing about it is that I take them one by one and when I do this, Olivia goes CRAZY, INSANE hollering at the top of her lungs for Daisy!! And they're only separated for a couple minutes.. I'm talking just the length of time it takes me to walk from pen to coop or coop to pen!! Geez Louise!! She's REALLY something else!! Hey, thanks for the picture and idea!!