Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[WhoDatChick]

Thanks! I cut Hattie out of the photo. I think she was coming over to eat the egg. Check this unedited version!
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Yea, they do seem to react when you take the eggs and show them.. they are like.. that’s not supposed to be there!

 

[Shadrach]

Most of my girls are moulting at the moment Shad and not laying eggs. The only one I'm getting eggs from at the moment is Alice who hasn't started her moult yet. That suggests a link between moulting and egg laying to me. Of course it's not a very big sample size

Have there been any actual studies linking moulting and going off the lay?

There have been a few studies on the subject. It's not that moulting and the cessation of egg laying are not coincidental; it's that there is no biological link between the two.
I used to be believed that there was a biological link.
The truth can be seen in mid year moulting which many hens do. They don't stop laying eggs though.

 

[Shadrach]

Nope, although she is a daughter of Barking Bracket so it might take years of psycho analysis to work out.
She is just noticeably different from the others. That isn't a problem for me and I just want to make sure it isn't a problem for her either.

 

[Shadrach]

Thanks! I cut Hattie out of the photo. I think she was coming over to eat the egg. Check this unedited version!
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I think Hattie was doing her rooster bit and was likely telling you to put the egg back where you found it.

 

[BY Bob]

There have been a few studies on the subject. It's not that moulting and the cessation of egg laying are not coincidental; it's that there is no biological link between the two.
I used to be believed that there was a biological link.
The truth can be seen in mid year moulting which many hens do. They don't stop laying eggs though.

That's interesting and I have always wondered if it was daylight or molting. You would think that they would stop laying and switch their protein usage to feathers from eggs. Additionally. It can't be easy to keep a big nest warm without feathers. However since it looks like they decide when to go broody, they would probably not choose to do so while molting. So maybe not so surprising.

Fascinating.

 

[BY Bob]

I think Hattie was doing her rooster bit and was likely telling you to put the egg back where you found it.

It is quite a look on her face.

 

[goldenfingers]

I just collected my three eggs while home for lunch today, one of them still warm. So glad that one of my favorite things hasn't changed! These chickens really give me a lot more than eggs.

 

[featherhead007]

I just collected my three eggs while home for lunch today, one of them still warm. So glad that one of my favorite things hasn't changed! These chickens really give me a lot more than eggs.

I know that feeling!

 

[LozzyR]

I just collected my three eggs while home for lunch today, one of them still warm. So glad that one of my favorite things hasn't changed! These chickens really give me a lot more than eggs.

Me too! I think I was surprised to discover how attached I became to them. We’ve always had pets and I love animals; I just didn’t consider chickens as pets before. I have been thoroughly educated in that regard!

 

[LozzyR]

Caught!

I can't say for certain if this is her first, but I am putting it down as #1. I caught Sansa laying today!
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Clever girl Sansa!