Egg laying.

[Bernie Shortt]

Hi guys, lm the proud owner of 4 rhode island reds...have them 2 weeks now, l get 1 egg each day, if l leave that egg in the nesting box will the other chickens lay another egg beside it or should l remove it?

 

[Mountain Peeps]

Welcome to BYC! Please make yourself at home and we are here to help.

You need to collect the eggs soon so they don't spoil or break. If you are wanting to encourage hens to lay in the nest, simply put some fake eggs in.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Welcome to BYC! Please make yourself at home and we are here to help.

You need to collect the eggs soon so they don't spoil or break. If you are wanting to encourage hens to lay in the nest, simply put some fake eggs in.

X2 - the purpose of "seeding" the nest is to encourage the hens to lay where you want them to, but will not actually cause a hen to start laying if she is not ready. Instead of using your actual eggs, alternatives like golf balls (you can get plastic "practice" golf balls that for like $2/15 @ WalMart), wooden eggs, etc give the hens the right idea without putting your eggs at risk of breakage, etc or risking a bad habit like egg eating developing in your flock.

 

[rossc54]

Are the ready to lay? They're about 18-19 weeks old

 

[Mountain Peeps]

Their combs and wattle say they are ready. Expect eggs within a month. They are beautfiul!

 

[Todd7273]

Look for the submissive squat then you will now they are really close. Also look for them wandering in and out of the nest boxes.

 

[Bernie Shortt]

Thanks for your help.

 

[Sandywitch]

ARGHHHH!!!! This waiting is just killing me!!! I have four pullets, a buff orpington, a barred rock, and two cuckoo marans. Three are 23 weeks old and one is 25 weeks old, but I'm not sure which one. I know the marans are 23 weeks. The BO and BR have red faces, combs, and wattles. I got the nest boxes ready with wooden eggs in them. We just switched to layer pellets since the grower pellets just ran out and we didn't want to buy another 50 lb bag of that this close to laying (hopefully). I have a major surgery in two days and, with my luck, one of them will probably lay their first egg while I'm in the hospital!!! I've even opened up the lid to the nest boxes and stood there clucking like an idiot trying to lure them into the coop to show them the wooden eggs to try to encourage them to "get the idea." They heard me, but instead of going INto the coop, they ran under it to talk to my legs!!!!! After surgery I won't be able to walk out back and down the deck steps to the coop for weeks since the surgery is on one of my legs, a fempop. I just know that hubby will find the first egg. NOOOOOOO!!!!! I'm their mommy, not him!!!! My laugh even resembles cackling! LOL! I wonder if there's a particular kind of music that would encourage egg-laying? I'm desperate!!!

 

[Jajika]

I know waiting is difficult. However, you just have to let nature take it's course. Let go of the issue that your husband will find the first egg. Hopefully you will have plenty of opportunities to see it. If you are having surgery and there is nothing you can do, feeling frustrated won't help.

Maybe ask him to bring in the first egg to you. That would be special.

I don't think music will help. They will lay when they are ready. Just like being pregnant and waiting for the baby to come. Except for a cesarean or other medically induced scenarios, babies come when nature says the are ready.

Your girls will lay when nature says so. Relax and enjoy.

 

[ccr chickens]

Hahahha music I love it