Grouchy and laying eggs

[ssferret]

Grouchy, one of my Light Brahma pullets, recently started laying eggs. I was sitting on the ground in the run, as I always do, while everyone was enjoying themselves. At least all but Grouchy. She was walking around crying like a big baby. She decided to stand next to me and started pushing as if she were constipated. I new it was most likely going to be an egg and blop, I was proven right. She never laid down. She just stood as if she were pushing out a big turd. Since it was her first egg, I let it go that she didn't go to the nestbox.

A few days later, after being out for an hour, Grouchy started crying agai. She's near the bottom of the hierarchy and many of the others had beeb picking on her. She kept coming to me for comfort but continued crying. She got on my lap facing toward me as I stroked her. This is extremely unusual for her. Eventually Kotàra, whom mommy very much spoiled (), got jealous and chased her away. Grouchy started crying again. Then it dawned on me. The last time she behaved this way was when she was about to lay an egg so I decided it was time for everyone to go back in the coop. Sure enough Grouchy immediately jumped into the nestbox. Shortly thereafter out popped an egg. Then another thought came to mind. I believe she was getting ready to lay that egg as she was on my lap!

 

[Perris]

Have you got dummy eggs in the nest boxes to show her where she's supposed to lay them? She'll probably twig on, sooner or later.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Good on you for catching on that she was about to lay! Since she successfully used the nest box, hopefully she'll continue to head into there for future eggs.

 

[ssferret]

Have you got dummy eggs in the nest boxes to show her where she's supposed to lay them? She'll probably twig on, sooner or later.

Yep. We have a dummy egg for each of the 3 nest boxes. When the girls first started laying eggs, they would be outside as they felt the urge to to begin pushing something large out of there butt, then seemed shocked when an egg popped out. In fact those looks just cracked me up. I couldn't help it.

When the girls are in the coop, they always use the nest boxes now. Even today, one of the girls went into the nest box and laid her egg. In fact I haven't seen any eggs that were laid outside lately. I don't know whether Grouchy was chased off at all by a more dominant pullet who wanted the same nest box or what. Would something like that actually scare her enough to simply not want to go back into a nest box right away?

Even Caspian, our cockerel, ran over and pecked her while she was crying in a corner of the run all alone. She comes to me for comfort and I try to give it to her. She seems to feel the safest with me, Kotàra not withstanding.

 

[ssferret]

I do want you to know that I did lecture the girls a couple weeks ago about using the nest box. Here, I wrote it down:

"Caspian, could you please go to another room. This is for girls only. Ok, fine. Since there is no other room pretend your not listening. Ok, girls. When you're playing outside and suddenly get this urge that something big is about to come out of your butt, go use the nest box. (No, I don't mean Caspian! Get your heads out of the gutter. And Caspian don't you dare crow about it. You're not supposed to be listening, remember?) As I was saying, do you think they're just there for show? It could get very embarrassing if you don't. Remember Kotàra? When it happened to her? She didn't even get to sit down before that egg popped out. For several minutes she just stood there, unable to move or wipe away that shocked look on her face. Everyone came over. It was so embarrassing. Does anyone want it to happen to them? Good. (Please Kotàra, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you by bringing that up. It was just an example. Fine! Give me the silent treatment. Two can play at this game. Hmph. )"

Kotàra forgave me immediately once she spotted grapes.

 

[Perris]

I don't know whether Grouchy was chased off at all by a more dominant pullet who wanted the same nest box or what. Would something like that actually scare her enough to simply not want to go back into a nest box right away?

could do. I've had some who just sit there unperturbed, however bad the commotion and however high ranking the hen that's doing the shouting, and I've currently got one that runs out at the slightest squeak from anyone and lays under a bush somewhere if another box in another coop is not available