Free ranging and laying...

[TucksMama]

Question...
My golden buffs just started laying. I have been finding at least one egg everyday in the nesting box. I'm not sure how many of them are laying (I have 5) and how often they lay this early. I free range them during the day and I'm concerned if they are laying they will not use the nesting box and find a place in the yard. Has anyone had issues with this? Should I wait to let them out of the coop later in the day?

 

[Ridgerunner]

It’s possible for a hen to lay any time of the day. Most of mine seem to lay before noon but I find eggs laid at all times of the day. Still, letting them out later is not a bad idea.

Since that one is laying in the nest, you are on the right track. They seem to want to lay where other chickens are laying. But that doesn’t mean one or more is not hiding a nest on you. Sometimes that can be hard to figure out. But if get more eggs when you leave them locked in, that’s a pretty good clue.

I also suggest fake eggs in the nests. I use golf balls but plastic eggs, ping pong balls, or ceramic or wooden eggs all seem to work. It doesn’t guarantee perfect success but it really does help. They seem to think that if another hen is laying there it is a safe place for a nest.

 

[chfite]

I let mine out early in the morning. Some have laid by then. The rest return to the nest during the day to lay.

Chris

 

[TucksMama]

Okay so due to fox sightings lately the girls have been left in the coop all day. And because of that I seem to be getting more eggs. (2-3 a day) I think they have been laying under the bushes in the front yard but I cannot get in there to check. So my question is... Should I leave them in the coop for a few weeks so they can establish laying in there? They love to free range so its going to be very hard on them.

Thanks,
Jennifer

 

[TucksMama]

I let mine out early in the morning. Some have laid by then. The rest return to the nest during the day to lay.

Chris

I think one or two return to the nest but the others I think would be happy to live under the bushes in the front yard forever.

 

[CAjerseychick]

I can relate-- we have been lazy and leave the coop door open ( we have loose big dogs that have turned into quite the Flock guardians) and so chickens are up and out by 6am-- they range about out of their chicken yard all day and come back to feed a couple times a day-- a couple of the hens do make it back to the nest boxes, as well as some sites I made in dogcrates under our deck, but have def noticed the egg count dropping off -- luckily am on vacation this week so was drinking my coffee and noticed them visiting a certain bush in the yard-- SUCCESS! 16 eggs in a nest and they all passed the (not) float test!
I took the eggs and put some straw down (it was a rocky little hollow under a berry bush), so am hoping they will continue to lay there...
I guess that is what I will do for the summer keep looking for the eggs-- I noticed when its cold they stick to the nest boxes pretty much--
They are big birds (Jersey Giants) I dont have the heart to restrict their free ranging, and the yolks are such a pretty orange...

PS yes I have been "seeding " the nest boxes and other sites with golf balls, even some round wooden veggies from my daughters old play kitchen (she is 10 now), and even the old "annoying orange" toy she left in the yard....

 

[dawnpel]

What is the (not) float test?? I haven't heard of that.

 

[CAjerseychick]

What is the (not) float test?? I haven't heard of that.

Its in my Chicken Book and my Homestead Farming Book, you just get a bowl of cold water and gently drop the eggs in one at a time, the fresh eggs will drop straight to the bottom-- the old eggs will have too much air and Float to the top (I had a few drop a little slower than the rest, those I saved for the dogs to be on the safe side, although they are probably ok)....
You dont want the eggs to float... so thats why I called it the (not) Float test...

 

[TucksMama]

Sixteen eggs!!! Wow they were busy. I wish I could get under those bushes. I have a feeling I will find a nice nest. But its too dense and too many spiders. Smart girls they know my weakness.

Well they have to stay in the coop until we get that fox. Poor things are very upset about it.

 

[dawnpel]

Very interesting...thank you!!! Its good to know.