Egg laying

[Oolala]

Hi, I am a newby chicken owner. I have only three chickens, a rhode island red named Rosie, A sussex named Fleur and a plymouth rock named Geraldine (my husbands choice of name ) I have only had them about six weeks and am in absolute love with them. They all have such different personalities from the smallest being the cheakiest to the biggest being shy. They have complete freedom of my garden which is 2,500 sq mtrs and follow me where ever I am working in it, chattering away and helping me with the weeding They didnt lay for the first two weeks but are now getting into a pattern. The rhode island is the most consistant laying a small egg each morning early, Geraldine is getting there but Fleur worries me as she takes up to four hours to lay an egg, admittedly they are huge eggs, but is this normal, she is always very thirsty when she comes out then goes for a nice dust bath. My other problem is the magpies, I think they are pinching the egg nearest the door if we are not around, any ideas on how to stop them doing this, I have to leave a small opening for the chickens to go in and out.

 

[Yorkshire Coop]

Hi

Glad you could join us here! It sure does sound like you are enjoying your new chicken adventures! I'm afraid unless you have a covered secure run around your coop magpies will always be a problem. We are over run with them here in the UK and they are so sneaky when it comes to comes to eggs! I have my birds in secure runs but if I collect eggs and forget to take them in they will steal them. I'm quite convinced that they watch me and as soon as I've gone they are there to steal them.
You might like to pop by the predator & pest section where members may be able to help you with ideas on how to deter the magpies ~ https://www.backyardchickens.com/forums/predators-and-pests.13/

Good luck and enjoy your time here on BYC

 

[Pork Pie]

Hello and welcome to BYC. Not sure there's an issue with your girl taking her sweet time to lay, but she will need to drink after such an effort- especially in the warm weather.

Good advice from Y/Coop re: magpies - too clever for their own good! Not as clever as monkeys though - my main cause of annoyance

 

[drumstick diva]

Thank you for joining us at Backyard chickens

 

[Oolala]

Hello and welcome to BYC. Not sure there's an issue with your girl taking her sweet time to lay, but she will need to drink after such an effort- especially in the warm weather.

Good advice from Y/Coop re: magpies - too clever for their own good! Not as clever as monkeys though - my main cause of annoyance

Just discovered why she is taking so long, she has gone broody and is pinching the other chickens egg to sit on

 

[Pork Pie]

Just discovered why she is taking so long, she has gone broody and is pinching the other chickens egg to sit on

They can be crafty, them gals!