Hen Getting Ready to Lay??

[chickwhisperer 17]

That's what makes this site so great, everyone sharing & helping each other. @Cntry1958 do you have Oyster Shells available?

 

[chickwhisperer 17]

Give them crushed oyster shells. It strengthens the shell of egg! So exciting you have first egg.

 

[poultry person]

You will know when your hen starts to lay when her comb gets bigger and you walk past her and she squats!

I apologize if this should be posted under another thread. I'm a newbie, so please forgive. I have three chickens - two RIRs and a Brahma/Cochin mix.The RIRs are about 23 weeks. Their combs and wattles are getting red, and one has been squatting when I reach down to pet her. This morning, when I let the girls out of their coop, Rose (one of the RIRs) was wandering off from the other two (which none of them EVER do). She was kind of pacing around the yard and acting differently. I went out later to check on them and couldn't find her. I was panicked, but then looked in the coop to find her in the nesting box. She was laying there very quite and still for quite some time (a couple of hours). I thought for sure I'd get an egg today. However, after going out a couple of hours later, I found her out of the coop and - no egg. She had clearly been trying to make a nice nest to lay in as the shavings were moved around and a nice nest was formed. My question is this - is this typical behavior? Do some hens go in and out of the nesting box - spending long periods of time in there before they actually lay? I sincerely appreciate any opinions that you can share. I can't contain the excitement, and the suspense is killing me!! Thanks so much!

 

[Patty724]

Irma was not too kind to my roo's. I had them safe and I guess they panicked and broke out and ran. Unfortunately, something found them (dog/coyotee)
Good news, I'm up to 4 eggs!! Day 1 was 1 small brown egg, day 2 was a larger brown egg and today was 2 brown eggs. 1 small and 1 noticeably larger. Will hens share a nesting box? I removed the first egg to save for sentimental reasons, after they were constantly knocking it out of the nesting box. Is this typical?
Thanks again for your help.

 

[Patty724]

Give them crushed oyster shells. It strengthens the shell of egg! So exciting you have first egg.

I did and I was surprised how quickly they ate it! <3

 

[Crooked Chicken]

Irma was not too kind to my roo's. I had them safe and I guess they panicked and broke out and ran. Unfortunately, something found them (dog/coyotee)
Good news, I'm up to 4 eggs!! Day 1 was 1 small brown egg, day 2 was a larger brown egg and today was 2 brown eggs. 1 small and 1 noticeably larger. Will hens share a nesting box? I removed the first egg to save for sentimental reasons, after they were constantly knocking it out of the nesting box. Is this typical?
Thanks again for your help.

Since I'm new to this I can only respond with what I've read: yes they will often share nest boxes.

If they keep kicking the egg out it likely not intentional. They might just be "fluffing up" the nest and it got in the way. You may need to add a lip at the outer edge of the box to prevent the egg from rolling out kind of like in this pic. I just tacked a wood strip about 1/2 inch up and so far it works and still allows me clean out the box.

 

[aart]

after they were constantly knocking it out of the nesting box. Is this typical?

Best to have a 3-4" lip on the front of the nests, to keep bedding and eggs inside.
New layers are notorious for tearing up the nest bedding, they usually stop after they've laid a few eggs.

 

[Patty724]

I've got guilt now I thought I was helping them by cutting the side down a little. I'm replacing it with another one and will let you know if the eggs stay put.

Thanks again for your help!

 

[Crooked Chicken]

I've got guilt now I thought I was helping them by cutting the side down a little. I'm replacing it with another one and will let you know if the eggs stay put.

Thanks again for your help!

Aww... don't feel guilty. Some chickens probably do fine without it and others don't.

 

[chickwhisperer 17]

I did and I was surprised how quickly they ate it! <3