First eggs

[HeyHo]

We got our first eggs today (two of them!). Right next to each other, just outside the nesting box. The ladies spent almost the whole day in the coop together, so I like to think they were cheering each other on! Girl power!

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Congratulations! Here's to many more to come!

 

[TheLaboratoryBF]

Woohoo!

 

[aart]

so I like to think they were cheering each other on!

Well, they may have been....but mostly they are laying where another bird has laid and thus deemed 'safe'. Put some fake egg or golf balls in the nests and they should lay in nests. Congrats...it's magic, ain't it!?

 

[N F C]

Nice looking eggs, congratulations!

 

[HeyHo]

OK, so another egg in the same place today -- just outside the nesting boxes. We have the boxes all set up with fake eggs and excelsior nesting pads. But they seem to prefer the floor of coop inches from the nesting boxes. Our nesting boxes are about 8 or so inches higher off the floor of the coop (but well below the roosts). Are the girls not getting that they should move up a level to the nesting boxes? I put a small box where they have been laying to use as a step and encourage them to the right spot. What else should I do?

 

[Chick-N-Fun]

Congratulations!
First Egg Day always feels like Christmas! Enjoy those fresh eggs!

 

[aart]

OK, so another egg in the same place today -- just outside the nesting boxes. We have the boxes all set up with fake eggs and excelsior nesting pads. But they seem to prefer the floor of coop inches from the nesting boxes. Our nesting boxes are about 8 or so inches higher off the floor of the coop (but well below the roosts). Are the girls not getting that they should move up a level to the nesting boxes? I put a small box where they have been laying to use as a step and encourage them to the right spot. What else should I do?

Go with some bedding in the nests.
Post pics of nests?

 

[Chick Chick McGee]

Congratulations! The first eggs always feel like Christmas!

 

[HeyHo]

Go with some bedding in the nests.[/QUOTE

You were right! I took out the nesting pads and used the shavings from the coop in the boxes -- they figured it out today. Let's hope they keep it up! The biggest surprise was whose egg it was! I was figuring one of my golden comets, but it was the barred rock based on the feathers in the box with the egg.

So thanks for the advice! (If left to my own devices, I'm sure I would have just continued to over-complicate things...)