Hello all! I've noticed my Lizzy (16-17 weeks) showing some laying signs so I opened the nesting boxes, filled them with straw and two fake eggs. I've also been watching her closely and looking for an egg. This morning I came out to 2 soft eggs under the coop. One was broken and mostly eaten while the other was smashed but outer coating intact. We are first time time flock parents and I want to be excited but all I can think about is that they were not in the nesting box and ONE WAS EATEN!!
So here are my questions. Are both eggs most likely from the same girl or could there be two laying? How do I encourage laying in the nesting box? What happens if one has figured out how good they taste? How should I be feeding a flock of eight with only one, possibly two, laying? And this last question has nothing to do with egg laying but last night half the flock slept in the coop and the other half perched together in the run. Both should be predator proof (at least according to everything we researched before building) so I was not too worried, should I be?
I am having fun watching them and looking forward to getting some eggs now that one is laying (earlier than anticipated). Lizzy is hands down my favorite and always has been. She follows me, talks to me and is just so sweet. A couple are jerks, though not too mean, to the rest. And one actually challenges my dogs (one is 80 lbs!) even pecking them! So far the dogs haven't retaliated and just walk away but I'm watching closely. I step in between them and move her on. Their social behaviors are neat to watch, though I am super neurotic in watching for any bullying. But they have forced me to take the time and just sit outside, which I usually won't do in my chaotic life. I am enjoying having them.
Thanks for reading my long post and I am very appreciative of any advice you can offer!
Cara
So here are my questions. Are both eggs most likely from the same girl or could there be two laying? How do I encourage laying in the nesting box? What happens if one has figured out how good they taste? How should I be feeding a flock of eight with only one, possibly two, laying? And this last question has nothing to do with egg laying but last night half the flock slept in the coop and the other half perched together in the run. Both should be predator proof (at least according to everything we researched before building) so I was not too worried, should I be?
I am having fun watching them and looking forward to getting some eggs now that one is laying (earlier than anticipated). Lizzy is hands down my favorite and always has been. She follows me, talks to me and is just so sweet. A couple are jerks, though not too mean, to the rest. And one actually challenges my dogs (one is 80 lbs!) even pecking them! So far the dogs haven't retaliated and just walk away but I'm watching closely. I step in between them and move her on. Their social behaviors are neat to watch, though I am super neurotic in watching for any bullying. But they have forced me to take the time and just sit outside, which I usually won't do in my chaotic life. I am enjoying having them.
Thanks for reading my long post and I am very appreciative of any advice you can offer!
Cara