Finally.... EGGS!

[GalvestonWader]

My girls finally started laying eggs! I have 1 black sexlink and 2 production reds that are right at 21 weeks and got our first egg this past Sunday, and one every day since. I believe it is only the sex link that is laying right now, and she has gotten way more friendly since she started. This is my family's first flock of birds and it is pretty rewarding to get some eggs after raising them from tiny chicks.

She is just laying in random places right now, not in the nest boxes which I've read is somewhat normal for new layers? The birds actually don't go into their coop very often at all, really only to eat because their food is in there. They roost outside in the enclosed run on a bar out there. I'm not sure why? My coop has plenty of ventilation and I've raised the roost bars and made some other modifications. Even went at night and placed them in the coop, but they just dont want to hang out in there. Any suggestions? I suppose it doesn't hurt anything for them to sleep out in the run. They are safe there.

It's a store bought coop, which I think is big enough for 3 birds. Here's some pics:

 

[cherrynberry]

My girls finally started laying eggs! I have 1 black sexlink and 2 production reds that are right at 21 weeks and got our first egg this past Sunday, and one every day since. I believe it is only the sex link that is laying right now, and she has gotten way more friendly since she started. This is my family's first flock of birds and it is pretty rewarding to get some eggs after raising them from tiny chicks.

She is just laying in random places right now, not in the nest boxes which I've read is somewhat normal for new layers? The birds actually don't go into their coop very often at all, really only to eat because their food is in there. They roost outside in the enclosed run on a bar out there. I'm not sure why? My coop has plenty of ventilation and I've raised the roost bars and made some other modifications. Even went at night and placed them in the coop, but they just dont want to hang out in there. Any suggestions? I suppose it doesn't hurt anything for them to sleep out in the run. They are safe there.

It's a store bought coop, which I think is big enough for 3 birds. Here's some pics:
View attachment 2811025View attachment 2811027View attachment 2811028

Do you have an anti dig apron for your run? What are the dimensions of the coop? Looks too small to me. A chicken needs 4sq. ft. each in the coop. And yes, red sexlinks tend to lay earlier.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Glad to see you added more ventilation and altered the roosts a bit.

Take the roost out of the run area and then stuff them into the pop door at night and see if that encourages them to start sleeping inside.

Do you have fake eggs in the nest box to encourage them to use them?

 

[GalvestonWader]

Yes I have buried some wire around the perimeter. The coop has 10.5 sq ft inside, not counting the 3 nest boxes. Not quite 4 ft per bird but not terrible small either.

That's a good idea about removing the roost bar from the run. I think I'll try that. And yes, I put a store bought white egg in one of the nest boxes. Should I put one in each box?

 

[rosemarythyme]

And yes, I put a store bought white egg in one of the nest boxes. Should I put one in each box?

Yes you should have one in each nest box. They may all end up favoring just one box, but it's to try and encourage them to consider using all available boxes.

 

[Ponypoor]

My girls finally started laying eggs! I have 1 black sexlink and 2 production reds that are right at 21 weeks and got our first egg this past Sunday, and one every day since. I believe it is only the sex link that is laying right now, and she has gotten way more friendly since she started. This is my family's first flock of birds and it is pretty rewarding to get some eggs after raising them from tiny chicks.

She is just laying in random places right now, not in the nest boxes which I've read is somewhat normal for new layers? The birds actually don't go into their coop very often at all, really only to eat because their food is in there. They roost outside in the enclosed run on a bar out there. I'm not sure why? My coop has plenty of ventilation and I've raised the roost bars and made some other modifications. Even went at night and placed them in the coop, but they just dont want to hang out in there. Any suggestions? I suppose it doesn't hurt anything for them to sleep out in the run. They are safe there.

It's a store bought coop, which I think is big enough for 3 birds. Here's some pics:
View attachment 2811025View attachment 2811027View attachment 2811028

My first silkie hen laid her first egg on my hay pile, I popped her into the nest box the next day when I noted she was 'restless' and she laid her second in there. The third day she again laid her egg on the hay pile. After that though she has consistently laid her eggs in the nest box.

Now my other two hens are also laying and they have automatically followed the first hen's lead and lay their eggs in the nest box - except for an oops egg my last hen laid yesterday. She laid her first egg at 10am in the nest box, then at 5pm she laid an egg without a shell in front of my office door here in the barn - she looked very surprised and so did I!

FYI - seeing as how I am new to hens is that normal for a first time layer to lay her first egg, then 5 hrs later lay a second one without a shell?!

 

[rosemarythyme]

FYI - seeing as how I am new to hens is that normal for a first time layer to lay her first egg, then 5 hrs later lay a second one without a shell?!

Not "normal" but possible. Likely the second one didn't have time to properly form a shell since it came so soon after the first.

 

[Ponypoor]

Not "normal" but possible. Likely the second one didn't have time to properly form a shell since it came so soon after the first.

She didn't lay an egg yesterday, and non today either - my other Silkie and the Silkie/Cochin are laying daily. I read that Silkies usually only lay 3 or 4 times a week so not overly concerned with Fluffy not laying today, I am surprised though that the other two are laying daily!

Never a dull moment here!

 

[GalvestonWader]

Well I changed up the roost bar to match the one they use out in the run. I think this utilizes the interior space better. Placed them in there at night this weekend and they are all roosting on the new bar. I also placed a white egg in each of the boxes and yesterday morning my sex link had laid in the middle box! Maybe it's working and she is getting the hang of it.

 

[Ponypoor]

I feel blessed that my 3 gals are using the nest box, only had the two 'ooops' times with the first hen. Now they are all 3 of them using the one nest box.

Now I have an issue with that first hen causing trouble for the last pullet to start laying; she is squawking and following the third hen around when the poor gal is trying to lay her egg, interrupting her. Last night I had to lock that third hen (Fluffy) in the Hen House and boot Henny-Penny out. Finally Fluffy was able to lay her egg in peace.