Gathering up the eggs?

[Our Roost]

I have spoken to a few chicken raisers that I know in regards to how anxious I am to taste some fresh eggs from my newly purchased hens in about 4 to 5 months. They all laughed feverishly. "Just wait until you go to gather those tasty eggs was their response" ! I hadnt realized that birds can become pretty aggressive in the coop and nesting boxes. The last thing we want is to get pecked and scratched to death! Ha Ha. Any tips, experiences or advice would be greatly appreciated on this matter. I thought some breeds were supposed to be docile, not crocile!

 

[Our Roost]

I have spoken to a few chicken raisers that I know in regards to how anxious I am to taste some fresh eggs from my newly purchased hens in about 4 to 5 months. They all laughed feverishly. "Just wait until you go to gather those tasty eggs was their response" ! I hadnt realized that birds can become pretty aggressive in the coop and nesting boxes. The last thing we want is to get pecked and scratched to death! Ha Ha. Any tips, experiences or advice would be greatly appreciated on this matter. I thought some breeds were supposed to be docile, not crocile!


Is this the reson some coops have back door access to the nesting boxes?

 

[song of joy]

This is not typically a problem unless the hen is "broody", in which case she is trying to protect her clutch from you. You shouldn't have any problems collecting eggs from non-broody hens, although you won't want to disturb them while they are in the nest box laying an egg.

 

[dainerra]

agreed. I've never had a problem collecting eggs. Now mobbed by birds expecting treats? That's another story lol

 

[theoldchick]

I distract my hens by tossing treats on the ground outside the coop. That way they are busy snacking.

 

[kara_leigh]

I have never had a problem collecting eggs. I just open the door and take them out. My chickens don't even give me a second look. *shrug* Even if a hen is sitting in a nest, I just reach under her to grab the other eggs. She may get an offended look, but they never care or try to attack me.

 

[Our Roost]

Hello Chicken Whisperer!
You are just the person I've been wanting to talk to. You have Jersey Giants? They are one of five (5 of each breed) breeds I purchased this year around mid April. So far I am loving these the most by not only their temperment when being held, but their appearance as they stand out really well in a crowd! At first we thought these would be our meat birds, but now I'm having second thoughts. We know they are a hefty bird and the largest but are wondering about how docile they are. Are they good among other birds or do they tend to rule the roost?

 

[theoldchick]

Mine get along well with each other. When I integrated the older trio with 5 weeks old, I did the typical segregation for few days until I thought the older birds realized the younger ones weren't food. I did have one rooster who was too rough on the hens when mating so he was re-homed. The one I kept is a typical rooster. He's good with his hens, but I wouldn't trust him with small kids. Nevertheless, he's learned to respect my space and needs an occasional reminder. Mine are hatchery stock (except the trio came from a local breeder) and are not super large. They are good layers with 15 healthy hens giving me 12 eggs a day. One hen has issues and is not laying. My birds were purchased for pet purposes and to reintroduce me into the chicken world once again.

Jersey Giants grow too slow in today's world to be used for food. Private bred birds take up to 2 years to reach mature weight. However, hatchery stock typically reach mature size at six months since they are not as large as 'home grown'. While my birds may not be top notch quality, I have no complaints about their temperament or health.