- Sep 22, 2008
- 29
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Can you offer practical suggestions borne out of successful experience encouraging a hen to lay in a laying box instead of in its own nest outside the coop?
I have a rooster and three hens, all free ranging. The hens started laying about three weeks ago.
After I first noticed one of the hens going missing for an hour or so per day, I searched the garden and I found eggs in a secluded and hidden spot. Then, I constructed a two-compartment laying box and put straw inside it; and two of the three hens took to immediately - each laying one egg per day there for about the last two weeks.
The other hen hasn't been interested in the laying box.
Yesterday, after she had gone missing for over four hours (and for the first time) I found her in her nest in another secluded spot, on the other side of the garden fence - with two dozen eggs beneath her!!!!! The weather's been pretty nice and warm or hot here in California for months; and it turned a little cool only a couple of days ago.
After several chases yesterday evening, I put her and five warm eggs in the laying box, and then closed her up in there overnight. This morning she jumped straight out of the laying box when I opened it up - and the five eggs were flat cold. Now, she's back sitting in her own (empty) nest again.
Also, what are the chances that the two dozen eggs I found in the wild nest are edible? Also by the way, I've noticed the rooster and some of the hens copulating, starting a couple of weeks ago.
I have a rooster and three hens, all free ranging. The hens started laying about three weeks ago.
After I first noticed one of the hens going missing for an hour or so per day, I searched the garden and I found eggs in a secluded and hidden spot. Then, I constructed a two-compartment laying box and put straw inside it; and two of the three hens took to immediately - each laying one egg per day there for about the last two weeks.
The other hen hasn't been interested in the laying box.
Yesterday, after she had gone missing for over four hours (and for the first time) I found her in her nest in another secluded spot, on the other side of the garden fence - with two dozen eggs beneath her!!!!! The weather's been pretty nice and warm or hot here in California for months; and it turned a little cool only a couple of days ago.
After several chases yesterday evening, I put her and five warm eggs in the laying box, and then closed her up in there overnight. This morning she jumped straight out of the laying box when I opened it up - and the five eggs were flat cold. Now, she's back sitting in her own (empty) nest again.
Also, what are the chances that the two dozen eggs I found in the wild nest are edible? Also by the way, I've noticed the rooster and some of the hens copulating, starting a couple of weeks ago.