Egg laying "etiquette"

[beginnergirl]

Do you ignore a hen sitting in the nest? Have never had chickens before. My BR Willow laid her first egg yesterday! There was a lot of talking from all the pullets. Very loud. Today I walked into the coop to bring in some sod, grubs and tomatoes from gardening. Willow was in her nest box, looking very focused and my EE was with her in the coop pacing back and forth. Neither interested in coming for treats. So I fed the grubs and worm to the pullet at the bottom of the pecking order. She hardly ever gets them as the others are too fast. This girl has a black mark on her rose comb. Guessing she was pecked? She was in the run away from Willow which was unusual. Yesterday all girls together for the egglauing "event".

I did not bother Willow or the EE. They usually rush me when I come into the coop wanting treats. Is egglaying sort of private and you shouldn't disturb them? Wanted to give Willow a grub but didn't. Within ten minutes I heard the "egg song" from inside the house, and there it was- the second perfect egg in 2 days!!! First egg:

 

[SnowPeeOstrichU]

Hi there!

Everything sounds like it is going well! Hens will sometimes make noise when laying. One of my hens, Peaches, goes to sit early in the morning before we let everyone out. She then will come out for a couple minutes sometimes to not miss the best treats but returns to finish her business. As it's their first eggs, I'd guess they're just getting used to this new and weird sensation.. Their eggs will slowly get bigger for some time(not the whole life of course) but they lay smaller when they start.

Hope this helps!

 

[aart]

All sounds pretty normal.....congrats!

Best to not disturb them when laying, just because they're a little spooky then anyway.
If they are used to you being in the coop often, it will not bother them much eventually...tho some of mine are more skittish than others, even as adults.

Just play it by eye, ear and observation as to what your birds will tolerate and what they won't.
Moving and talking slowly and softly is always a good idea.

 

[donrae]

I usually leave them be, but have shooed a hen off the box if I'm pressed for time and want to get those eggs. Sometimes I'll stand and wait, tapping my toe. I've got to see a few eggs actually laid that way, always pretty cool!

 

[N F C]

Most of my girls don't seem to mind if I'm in the coop with them or not. But a couple (especially one of the red sex links) chews me out if they're in the box and I go in the coop. I suppose it's kind of like people...some like more privacy than others.

Congrats on getting eggs, that's a nice looking one in the picture!

 

[beginnergirl]

All sounds pretty normal.....congrats!

Best to not disturb them when laying, just because they're a little spooky then anyway.
If they are used to you being in the coop often, it will not bother them much eventually...tho some of mine are more skittish than others, even as adults.

Just play it by eye, ear and observation as to what your birds will tolerate and what they won't.
Moving and talking slowly and softly is always a good idea.

Thanks snowpeaostrichu! That was helpful. My BR talks all the time. Guess they all do.

Aart,
Great advice! Yes think I will give the girls some space while they are getting used to laying. They are used to me being in the coop and run. All the rose petals are gone from the nest. Guess someone ate them No chemicals used so guess that is fine. Very exciting! Thanks all!

 

[beginnergirl]

Donrae and NFlaChick,

It would be AMAZING to see an egg being laid! Fingers crossed I might get to see that.

BR Willow must be getting calcium from somewhere. Still on grower food but in yard an hour or two a day. Put out oyster shell and it is all gone. Hope it won't hurt the others that are laying yet.
Thanks for the support!

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Donrae and NFlaChick,

It would be AMAZING to see an egg being laid! Fingers crossed I might get to see that.

BR Willow must be getting calcium from somewhere. Still on grower food but in yard an hour or two a day. Put out oyster shell and it is all gone. Hope it won't hurt the others that are laying yet.
Thanks for the support!

None of my birds mind people being in the coop - if/when they want to go to nest and lay, they do......it helps to spend time out there and become just another part of the scenery to them so that whether they are on the nest, on the roost or scratching about on the floor your presence is nothing out of the ordinary.
The great thing about oyster shell is that while a non-laying bird may peck at it a bit out of curiosity, they feel no drive to take it in in the quantity that a laying bird will, so there is no danger of it hurting non-laying birds to have it out in ample supply for the taking by those who are laying.

 

[beginnergirl]

None of my birds mind people being in the coop - if/when they want to go to nest and lay, they do......it helps to spend time out there and become just another part of the scenery to them so that whether they are on the nest, on the roost or scratching about on the floor your presence is nothing out of the ordinary. 
The great thing about oyster shell is that while a non-laying bird may peck at it a bit out of curiosity, they feel no drive to take it in in the quantity that a laying bird will, so there is no danger of it hurting non-laying birds to have it out in ample supply for the taking by those who are laying. 

Makes sense. I built the run so I could hang out with them. I even have a little place to sit.
Good to know that the non layers will be okay eating oyster shell. Thank you!

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

My hens kind of view their time in the nest box as kind of how we view being in a bathroom stall, judging from their expressions LOL. However, I gently reach under to grab eggs when I am doing my daily egg collecting and just don't talk to them. They usually lift themselves up for me to get the eggs. Occasionally one will flee the box and go to another box.