Chipmunk, a 2 year old D'Anver hen, started laying about a month ago, a month after I got her. The other 4 girls, were all pullets. The oldest, Prissy, I thought was going to start next.
Turned out one of the game hens was to be 2nd, she laid her first 4 days ago, and has laid another one since then. Prissy laid her first today! Teeny little thing too.
It's funny how they do the nesting thing. Chipmunk is the only one who sings about it. The other two, Jibbers the rooster does it for them. They swap nests and steal eggs too!! Jibbers has been giving "attentions" to all of them, so the other two should start soon.
I went out to get Chipmunk's egg 4 days ago, and a game was sitting on it. Took it, came back later. Chipmunk was sitting on the game's first egg. Game laid again, the BABY was sitting on it! Prissy laid today, found the baby sitting on it. So the baby may be next! She either has a very high pitched voice, or her voice isn't even done changing yet from peep to bawk. She doesn't look fully feathered either, tail is still short and thin. What the heck is the baby doing on the nest, two days in a row now, if she's not done growing?? She's sat on everyone's egg, but hasn't laid her own yet.
Prissy and the game hen lay without ceremony. No song, minimal pacing, don't set long, they just go in, pop it out, and leave! Prissy laid in her own place too, so I added an additional nesting box. She put it on top of the egg "room" instead of in it! And the baby found it and comandeered it!
Silly girls. They keep this up, and I'll have eggs coming out of my eyeballs! Rooster is beyond himself, he's very busy keeping watch on the girls outside, checking on the girls on the nest, making sure everyone is fed, bred, and where they need to be. I think 5 girls is his max!
Turned out one of the game hens was to be 2nd, she laid her first 4 days ago, and has laid another one since then. Prissy laid her first today! Teeny little thing too.
It's funny how they do the nesting thing. Chipmunk is the only one who sings about it. The other two, Jibbers the rooster does it for them. They swap nests and steal eggs too!! Jibbers has been giving "attentions" to all of them, so the other two should start soon.
I went out to get Chipmunk's egg 4 days ago, and a game was sitting on it. Took it, came back later. Chipmunk was sitting on the game's first egg. Game laid again, the BABY was sitting on it! Prissy laid today, found the baby sitting on it. So the baby may be next! She either has a very high pitched voice, or her voice isn't even done changing yet from peep to bawk. She doesn't look fully feathered either, tail is still short and thin. What the heck is the baby doing on the nest, two days in a row now, if she's not done growing?? She's sat on everyone's egg, but hasn't laid her own yet.
Prissy and the game hen lay without ceremony. No song, minimal pacing, don't set long, they just go in, pop it out, and leave! Prissy laid in her own place too, so I added an additional nesting box. She put it on top of the egg "room" instead of in it! And the baby found it and comandeered it!
Silly girls. They keep this up, and I'll have eggs coming out of my eyeballs! Rooster is beyond himself, he's very busy keeping watch on the girls outside, checking on the girls on the nest, making sure everyone is fed, bred, and where they need to be. I think 5 girls is his max!