First Eggs

[juliaschickens]

So I woke up this morning to check on my hens and there were 3 eggs in their coop. These are their first eggs! I don't know who laid them, but I have a pretty good idea. This hen has frequently been very loud and cackling(i think thats the correct term) all day. She is very broody and seems like she's trying to find a good place to lay(she's trying to lay on our deck..). She is lying down and trying to dig out a good spot. I just wanted to know if all this is normal? These are our first chickens. I don't want to risk anything. She is an isa brown, btw

 

[GC-Raptor]

Yah, my first to lay was acting strange the day before she laid. So I installed the nest boxes.
The next day she was agitated, squawking, going in and out of the coop. Finally she stayed inside and was trying to make a nest on the floor.
So I picked her up and put her in a nest box. 35 minutes later, she sang the egg song and came out of the coop. A beautiful egg in the box. My girls are Golden Comets. GC

 

[aart]

So I woke up this morning to check on my hens and there were 3 eggs in their coop. These are their first eggs! I don't know who laid them, but I have a pretty good idea. This hen has frequently been very loud and cackling(i think thats the correct term) all day. She is very broody and seems like she's trying to find a good place to lay(she's trying to lay on our deck..). She is lying down and trying to dig out a good spot. I just wanted to know if all this is normal? These are our first chickens. I don't want to risk anything. She is an isa brown, btw

Yep, new layers act goofy like that and can make an earsplitting cacophony.
Do you have nests for them in the coop?
Have they been checking out the nests?
They usually tear them up pretty good in the week or so preceding and actual egg.
Put some fake eggs/golf balls in there to lure them to lay there.

 

[Crazy for Chickens!]

Make sure they have nest boxes in their coops. You might need to put them in there. It is a good idea to put nest boxes in the coop before they start laying, so they can know that that is a good place to lay.

 

[Patinas]

I too am going through this with new laying hens. I have one that kept dropping eggs on the poop trays in the coop. I finally was able to catch her in the act so I put her in a nest box and she stayed in there to lay her egg. She's now using it regularly. I suspect I have another one starting to lay due to what you've described; the loud, frantic clucking, acting strangely and running around like an anxiety ridden chicken.

Just keep an eye on them and if you can catch them trying to lay, put them in the nest box. They will get the idea!

 

[MrsAuberry00]

My Lady Edith kept going in and out of the nesting box while clucking and squawking loudly for a day or so before she started laying. I was letting them all free range starting first thing in the morning, but I've been keeping them in the run until I'm sure all the laying for the day is done because I want them to know the nesting boxes are where you lay, not all over the yard. I've never been a fan of easter egg hunts.

 

[igorsMistress]

I have 3 that all started laying within a day or so of each other too, crazy that they sync like that!
Only 3 of the 4 who are laying use nest boxes. My Welsummer doesn't like a human in the coop if she is nesting and refuses to use a nest box. She picked a corner and made a nest in the pine shavings so I put some hay down for her.
Happy to have everyone laying IN the coop, not going to dictate where I suppose.
I did use the fake eggs to encourage use of the boxes though.