Hens that hide their eggs

[azulita]

Hi!

I have 2 Americauna hens, 1 banty hen and a cute little banty roo. My girls are awful. They hide their eggs and it takes me forever to find them. I just found a big stash under some ivy under the deck. The problem is that whenever I find them and take them, they just find a new spot.

They have a lovely coop and run pen, but they fly in and out at will.

I like having them as self-declared free range birds, but I wish they would let me take the eggs.

Has anyone used the fake eggs to show them where to lay? Also, is it too late to pick a spot now? Also, the Americaunas eggs are blue green, will they notice the color?

Any help is greatly appreciated!

Kathy in Austin

 

[LoneCowboy]

I used golf balls, and at least the one who is laying knows right where to go. I also put up curtains in front of their nesting boxes to make them dark and secluded... at least to them. I just took some fabric, and cut strips most of the way up and then stabled it to their box about 2/3rds of the way down the box. maybe that might work for you.

 

[silkiechicken]

I say when you find the nest, put in fake eggs or golf balls in that nest and so they are tricked in thinking it is still safe.

 

[treeclimber233]

If you can leave your hens penned in the hen house until lunch time they may lay their egg before you let them out. (not practical if you work) After a few days they may decide they like the nest best.

 

[azulita]

Thanks for your ideas. Currently I only have a five foot fence aroung their coop. I thought since it was pretty big...about 12 x 20' they would be content. They are not. They fly out in the morning and free range most of the day. They hang out by the pool, on the deck, and pretty much anywhere they want to go, which makes finding the egg stashes so difficult.

I think I need to rethink there coop and run.

Kat in Austin

 

[okiechick57]

Quote:
I have the same problem finding eggs.........nothing worked for me as far as making them lay inside run/henhouse.......until I watched and found out what time they usually lay.which in my birds cases,was pretty much the same time each day....you also might consider just covering your coop and run.........

 

[Cuban Longtails]

I have to do easter-egg hunts too. In fact, I just found a huge pile of eggs under a pile of lumber in the yard. I do use fake eggs (one plastic filled with sand and a wooden one, each in different spots), and some of the hens will use that spot. Obviously not all of them were doing it.

Things will change once I get a proper coop and yard built for them!