eggs

[ewaugaman]

I am so excited I went out in my coop this morning and there was an egg, I think it was my little bannie hen because it was so small. my concern is that it was not in a laying bed, it was under thee perch, is this normal. I have four laying beds in there why didn't she lay in one of those. I make sure the beds are cleaned out, should I change the bedding everyday and put fresh hay in there?

Also I have one chicken that is real aggressive I think it is a hen, but everytime I go in there she puffs up and starts pecking at either my feet or my legs, of course I give her a push away from me, but I don't like that, how can I prevent an aggressive chicken

I was told once to put something softer in the boxes for them to lay, I use straw in there coop. is this ok.

thanks Ewaugaman

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Congrats on your first egg -- always an exciting day!
Don't worry about where it was found - it can take time for them to figure out the whole laying process, including the "where" -- those first eggs often seem to take them a bit by surprise. You can help them figure out the use of the nest boxes by "baiting" them with false eggs (wood/ceramic eggs, golf balls, etc) - as it is instinct for them to lay where another hen has laid, so seeing an "egg" in the nest box encourages them to go there to lay their own eggs. It also helps to be sure the nest boxes are attractive from a birds' perspective - can you post a photo of your nest boxes?
As to the size - that does not necessarily mean it came from a bantam hen. Even large fowl pullets often produce very small eggs for the first weeks they are in production. As the bird's system gets things figured out the eggs increase in size and regularity.

 

[LilJoe]

Do you have any wood or ceramic eggs? Put those in the 'laying beds'...

... all pullets lay small eggs at first!

As for the possible roo...could just be an aggressive pullet. Pictures?

And straw? Mites and lice can hide inside of the straw. I use Pine Shavings.

Congrats BTW!!!

 

[ewaugaman]

Congrats on your first egg -- always an exciting day!
Don't worry about where it was found - it can take time for them to figure out the whole laying process, including the "where" -- those first eggs often seem to take them a bit by surprise. You can help them figure out the use of the nest boxes by "baiting" them with false eggs (wood/ceramic eggs, golf balls, etc) - as it is instinct for them to lay where another hen has laid, so seeing an "egg" in the nest box encourages them to go there to lay their own eggs. It also helps to be sure the nest boxes are attractive from a birds' perspective - can you post a photo of your nest boxes?
As to the size - that does not necessarily mean it came from a bantam hen. Even large fowl pullets often produce very small eggs for the first weeks they are in production. As the bird's system gets things figured out the eggs increase in size and regularity.

 

[ewaugaman]

thank you so much, that really helps me out, I will put some plastic eggs in the nest boxes to see if I can encourage them to lay in there. thank you so much for your suggestions. the boxes I have are in the coop, they are milk crates, I thought that would be good, I was also suggested to use wood shavings for their nesting boxes, I am going to try that as well. thank you again Ewaugaman

 

[ewaugaman]

Do you have any wood or ceramic eggs? Put those in the 'laying beds'...

... all pullets lay small eggs at first!

As for the possible roo...could just be an aggressive pullet. Pictures?

And straw? Mites and lice can hide inside of the straw. I use Pine Shavings.

Congrats BTW!!!

 

[ewaugaman]

I will do that, I have some easter eggs, I will put them in there, and I am going to try shavings as well. thank you so much. ewaugaman you can see there boxes right?

 

[ewaugaman]

Congrats on your first egg -- always an exciting day!
Don't worry about where it was found - it can take time for them to figure out the whole laying process, including the "where" -- those first eggs often seem to take them a bit by surprise. You can help them figure out the use of the nest boxes by "baiting" them with false eggs (wood/ceramic eggs, golf balls, etc) - as it is instinct for them to lay where another hen has laid, so seeing an "egg" in the nest box encourages them to go there to lay their own eggs. It also helps to be sure the nest boxes are attractive from a birds' perspective - can you post a photo of your nest boxes?
As to the size - that does not necessarily mean it came from a bantam hen. Even large fowl pullets often produce very small eggs for the first weeks they are in production. As the bird's system gets things figured out the eggs increase in size and regularity.

 

[ewaugaman]

you can see their boxes right? they are inside a bog coop, nothing can get them like birds or what not, thanks again

 

[ewaugaman]

I have two boxes on one side of their coop and two on the other side, should I put all four together? I am new at this, so please be patient with me. LOL