Egg laying behavior

[Rommy]

Ok peeps; this chicken novice needs advice again. My Miss Tip has been laying for the past week. Eggs for 7 days in a row. I was outside with them this a.m. allowing them some free range time in the backyard. I noticed a little (just a brush) of poo on her hind feathers; not much at all. I went to clean the coop up a little and she came back in and was acting very antsy. She got up in the nesting box, out again, on top and then when I went out she got back in so I left her alone. She stayed down there for a little while and I heard a lot of shuffling around and she was making some noise kind of low clucking.... is this all normal behavior or what? HELP. Don't want her to be having problems I am unaware of; but don't want to be a "mother hen" if that makes sense..lol

 

[Evelyn Walker]

Sounds like she's going broody.

 

[chickens really]

She was laying an egg. Definitely not Broody..

 

[Rommy]

She was laying an egg. Definitely not Broody..

Thanks! You are right, she came out again for awhile and no egg; then went back in a little later and laid and egg. I guess I'm a nervous ninny as a new chicky mom!

 

[chickens really]

Thanks! You are right, she came out again for awhile and no egg; then went back in a little later and laid and egg. I guess I'm a nervous ninny as a new chicky mom!

Pullets definitely are in and out of the nest boxes and more drama..

 

[chrissynemetz]

It's normal, it's just her getting prepared to lay her egg. Some girls take a while to decide whether they're ready or not... in and out of a nest box, ooh maybe the one over there is better... no the first one was better.... maybe just here on the floor...
Chickens can be so weird

 

[Rommy]

Hi folks! A 2nd hen started laying today; I'm thinking it is my other Maran b/c she has been acting a little antsy herself and very vocal when I am collecting the eggs. I found one in the box that Miss Tip has been laying in and I found another smaller and lighter brown egg on the floor. This one looks as if it was cked to see what it was b/c it had a little nick in it that Miss Tips 2nd egg had in it; my guess is it was being cked for "what is this?" lolol.... QUESTION: How do I encourage laying in the box and not in the sand floor? We have 3 nesting boxes so space is not an issue. Thanks!

 

[chickens really]

They will use them but new layers lay all over the place till they understand what actually is happening to them. Have no concerns.

 

[chrissynemetz]

You can try putting ceramic eggs or golf balls in the nest boxes to kind of give the girls the idea of where to lay.

 

[Rommy]

They will use them but new layers lay all over the place till they understand what actually is happening to them. Have no concerns.

Thanks! You are right; no more on the floor. They are laying in the nesting boxes now.