Hen Getting Ready to Lay??

[New Chicken Lady]

I hope you and the chickens are faring well in the storm. Please check in when you're able.

I got my first eggs this week too. Found one small brown egg on Saturday in an upper nest box along with the fake "dino" egg I put in there. There was a small hole in one end, but the membrane was intact so I had the egg on my BLT No egg on Sunday or Monday unless it's out in the bushes, but I kind of doubt it. Today I was trying to work on the coop and my Barred Rock hen Raven got in the nest box. She spent a good 1/2 hour nesting and changing position. I wandered around in and out of the coop and she laid her 2nd egg - same nest box with the same fake egg. I congratulated her on a job well done.

1st egg w/holeView attachment 1135092
2nd egg with fake dinosaur egg
View attachment 1135094
I keep thinking my chickens are older than they are. I got them May 5th at approximately 2 days old. So on Sept. 9th, when 1st egg was laid, they would have been 19 weeks old. That's pretty early isn't it?

Mine was 22 weeks when she first laid. The other one started a week after her. (Yes, I have two layers now!!) They are Rhode Island Reds and I have heard they are early layers (start as early as 18 weeks).

 

[New Chicken Lady]

I hope you get some eggs soon!! I love the name rose for your RIR!

I've got a problem with a few of mine popping in the nesting boxes- they choose to sleep there and yuck! I clean the box and someone will lay an egg and poopy chicken gets in it and ruins my eggs over night after reading everyone's advice I initially thought a golf ball would help (combs are just now getting color) but probably not if they are roosting and pooping on eggs already there :/

Mine have slept in their nesting boxes since day one, and all my efforts have made not one bit of difference. They pile on top of each other every night and snuggle (all you can see is feet and beaks ). The lady from whom I got the girls said it isn't a big deal, and it really hasn't been for me at all. I keep their boxes cleaned and new pine shavings added daily and I've yet to have any poop on an egg.

 

[New Chicken Lady]

Luckily Irma was not even close to what the forecasts predicted it would be here. We were very blessed. I did put the girls in the garage. When I checked on them before bed, two had gotten on my car, then flew to the garage door track at the ceiling to roost. They pooped ALL over my car that night!! UGGGGHHHH!! Oh well, at least they would have been safe had conditions become serious.

 

[aart]

Mine have slept in their nesting boxes since day one, and all my efforts have made not one bit of difference. The lady from whom I got the girls said it isn't a big deal, and it really hasn't been for me at all. I keep their boxes cleaned and new pine shavings added daily and I've yet to have any poop on an egg.

This would drive me nuts! Likes keeping nests totally poop free.

 

[Crooked Chicken]

Mine have slept in their nesting boxes since day one, and all my efforts have made not one bit of difference. They pile on top of each other every night and snuggle (all you can see is feet and beaks ). The lady from whom I got the girls said it isn't a big deal, and it really hasn't been for me at all. I keep their boxes cleaned and new pine shavings added daily and I've yet to have any poop on an egg.

My chickens never did sleep in the nest boxes, but the 2 ducks do -- they use 2 lower boxes and they poop BIG. Honestly I don't think it's a problem if you have enough boxes for laying.

This would drive me nuts! Likes keeping nests totally poop free.

Awww.... c'mon Aart -- you know you like to clean up poo as much as the next guy

 

[aart]

Awww.... c'mon Aart -- you know you like to clean up poo as much as the next guy

I scoop poop every.single.day.....off the roost boards, where it's is easy to sift out of the sand/PDZ mix....but not out of the nests. I like them to bowl out the nest straw just so, and have it stay that way day after day no poop in there, broken eggs are the worst.

 

[Crooked Chicken]

I scoop poop every.single.day.....off the roost boards, where it's is easy to sift out of the sand/PDZ mix....but not out of the nests. I like them to bowl out the nest straw just so, and have it stay that way day after day no poop in there, broken eggs are the worst.

I am really loving my poop boards/PDZ. So glad I read that entire thread where all of you were discussing them.

Yup, had one of those yesterday.... so sad. I reached under her and scooped it up before it made a big mess.

 

[ChickNanny13]

Meringue's 1st egg @ 26wks Waiting for the other 3, will check pelvic bones tomorrow. They're all BOs, didn't think I'd get any until later this year

 

[Crooked Chicken]

Meringue's 1st egg @ 26wks Waiting for the other 3, will check pelvic bones tomorrow. They're all BOs, didn't think I'd get any until later this year

Congratulations! That is a beautiful, perfect egg. Good job Meringue!
Is Meringue's tail usually in that position? Curious. I have 2 BO's and one has a tail like that and the other points up.

I have 3 laying now - 2 Barred Rocks and 1 EE. My Buff Orpingtons and Rhode Island Red pullets shouldn't be too far behind.

I'm wondering if they will lay all winter. I guess I'll just have to wait and see. I do not plan to use lights to trick them, but will have a red heat in one corner just in case it becomes too frigid.

 

[aart]

Meringue's 1st egg @ 26wks

Grats!
Is that her pic?
Comb looks pretty pale, maybe its just the pic.