Hens in "Chicky Jail" **UPDATE**

[WindyOaksYokes]

Jackie - oh no... dont ever follow my lead LOL

I get myself in enough trouble...

Anyways, my girls have been fussing at me too but nothing major until I walk to the coop!... and the roos... OH MY... I have 9 of them... when I walk out the door and down the steps they all come running and are at my heals until I walk back in the house. They follow me to the coop and when I do not let the girls out... OMG... they get quite upset with me. And my poor girls are attacked at night when I let them out for a couple of hours. I feel so sorry for them... I'm lost in what I need to do at this point... CYN- if you are reading this... advise would be helpful!!!
I have been thrilled to be getting 12 to 17 eggs... and then all of a sudden today I only got 10... why???

I know they skip a day... but to go from 17 to 10 is beyond me. I do know that I do have new layers because I am getting the small eggs again. So I am thinking I am getting new layers and they are doing their thing and laying and then waiting. Am I correct on this???

boomerge - I agree with you, and that is what I have... I have a boxes built inside a run. hard to explain... I just do not let them out to the 5 acres. They do have enough spacious room and access to their boxes.

Good luck to those who are searching for eggs. I wish you the best of luck!!!!
Tes

 

[StPaulieGirls]

Tes -

I've got no advice for you as my two pullets don't show any inclinations toward laying, but thought you might get a kick out of this sonnet by John Clare. I found it at poemhunters.com when I was looking for readings for a chicken-themed worship service.

At least you know you're not alone when your troubles show up in literature!!!

Hen's Nest

Among the orchard weeds, from every search,
Snugly and sure, the old hen’s nest is made,
Who cackles every morning from her perch
To tell the servant girl new eggs are laid;
Who lays her washing by, and far and near
Goes seeking all about from day to day,
And stung with nettles tramples everywhere;
But still the cackling pullet lays away.
The boy on Sundays goes the stack to pull
In hopes to find her there, but naught is seen,
And takes his hat and thinks to find it full,
She’s laid so long so many might have been.
But naught is found and all is given o’er
Till the young brood come chirping to the door.

John Clare

 

[speckledhen]

Tes, what was your question for me? I'm having a rough day today and can't seem to focus well. Attacked by what? Are they okay?

 

[WindyOaksYokes]

They follow me to the coop and when I do not let the girls out... OMG... they get quite upset with me. And my poor girls are attacked at night when I let them out for a couple of hours. I feel so sorry for them... I'm lost in what I need to do at this point...

Cyn - my question is, what can I do for my poor girls that are being attacked by the roosters when I let them out in the afternoon??? Yes the girls are all fine and for the most part, so are the roos except they just have a slight case of "blue-balls" LOL...​

 

[speckledhen]

All you can do is separate the roosters. Salt peter in their feed? Just kidding! Boys will be boys. Range them separately is all I know to do.

 

[jackiedon]

Well Windy,

I couldn't handle it anymore and the hens quit laying!! I let them out and they laid so I guess they were protesting. I found the eggs so I will just keep letting them out during the day to free range and egg hunt everyday. Of course I don't have 5 acres to search.

jackie

 

[WindyOaksYokes]

John - thank you .... that was cute!!!

Jackie - well I cracked too LOL... I am letting the girls out between 12 and 1 everyday now. But I can say that it has been alot easier finding eggs!!! As for the protesting... UM YUP!!! mine did it to me too

Salt peter in their feed?

do you know where I can buy some?​

 

[cheeptrick]

Yep...I cracked too! Still getting just the one egg a day and she skips a day now and then. I let them out at 3pm every day and then lock them back up at 7pm. Today...they all ran to the neighbors! My neighbor laughed and said they were his NOW!
Just to be clear...when I've locked them up...its been in an open coop into an enclosed run. PLENTY of room. Mine are just spoiled and LOVE to range on the 2 no 4 acres including my neighbors yard now!

 

[WindyOaksYokes]

ooppsss forgot to mention that! I am getting between 15 and 18 eggs a day right now/still. Even with them laying on the hay that is stacked up the wall behind their nests LOL. But most are laying in the nests.

Question: is it normal for a hen to just sit in the nest in the afternoon for about an hour or too and not lay an egg. She seems completely fine, I just catch her occasionally just sitting there.