How did your flock annoy you today?

[GApeachmama]

They’ll probably be all over the map in the next several weeks as their hormones and various stages along the reproductive tract get in synch.

You might find soft-shelled and shell-less eggs during this time. Sometimes their hormonal triggers release two eggs in a day (or a similar variant), and they shoot through the reproductive tract so quickly that they don’t get a shell fully deposited.

Don’t panic if that happens, and also don’t panic if you find them pecking at or eating a shell-less egg. Mine did that once or twice, I think out of curiosity, but I’ve never once had an egg-eater of a fully-shelled egg.

Congratulations! And in a month, you’ll probably be posting to ask what on earth you can do with all these eggs.

I can hardly wait.

 

[GApeachmama]

They’ll probably be all over the map in the next several weeks as their hormones and various stages along the reproductive tract get in synch.

You might find soft-shelled and shell-less eggs during this time. Sometimes their hormonal triggers release two eggs in a day (or a similar variant), and they shoot through the reproductive tract so quickly that they don’t get a shell fully deposited.

Don’t panic if that happens, and also don’t panic if you find them pecking at or eating a shell-less egg. Mine did that once or twice, I think out of curiosity, but I’ve never once had an egg-eater of a fully-shelled egg.

Congratulations! And in a month, you’ll probably be posting to ask what on earth you can do with all these eggs.

Can you startle them into not laying? Like an idiot I petted my favorite girl while she was sitting. If so, will she catch up when she wants to?

 

[LaurenRitz]

Can you startle them into not laying? Like an idiot I petted my favorite girl while she was sitting. If so, will she catch up when she wants to?

They can hold onto an egg for a while, but if it's in there it is coming out.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

They can hold onto an egg for a while, but if it's in there it is coming out.

Agreed, once it’s that far down the pipeline that they’ve gone to the nest, that thing’s coming out.

It’s true that severe shocks, threats, etc. can put them off lay for a bit, as that affects the “upstream” of the repro tract, affecting the release of the ovum from the ovary. When that happens, be patient and help the chicken environment be calm, and they’ll get back to business.

 

[ella2025]

I unlocked the run door (it was still closed firmly) and completely forgot about it and went to do something else, and the chickens pushed it open. they came pouring out.

I was fine with that and let them free range, supervised, for like half an hour in the tallest messiest buggiest part of my lawn. I train them to come when called with mealworms, their favorite food in my hand. They (almost) ALWAYS run over and follow me into the run when they hear "CHICKIES!!!". This time was different. 4 of my hens followed me at first, then ran outside when I was about to close the run door.

I was like "ugh fine I'll just get more mealworms and they'll come when called." NO. they wouldn't budge and ran away from me whenever I approached them with the meal worms. I tried herding them with a stick like I usually do when they're unresponsive to treats, and they just ran the opposite direction I wanted them to go. It took me ten minutes of constant running back and forth, screaming at the top of my lungs, and banging my stick on the ground in frustration to get them to go in. I also wasted about a cup of expensive mealworms trying to lure them in. And now I know those hens will be traumatized and will not come when I call them for at least a week.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

I unlocked the run door (it was still closed firmly) and completely forgot about it and went to do something else, and the chickens pushed it open. they came pouring out.

I was fine with that and let them free range, supervised, for like half an hour in the tallest messiest buggiest part of my lawn. I train them to come when called with mealworms, their favorite food in my hand. They (almost) ALWAYS run over and follow me into the run when they hear "CHICKIES!!!". This time was different. 4 of my hens followed me at first, then ran outside when I was about to close the run door.

I was like "ugh fine I'll just get more mealworms and they'll come when called." NO. they wouldn't budge and ran away from me whenever I approached them with the meal worms. I tried herding them with a stick like I usually do when they're unresponsive to treats, and they just ran the opposite direction I wanted them to go. It took me ten minutes of constant running back and forth, screaming at the top of my lungs, and banging my stick on the ground in frustration to get them to go in. I also wasted about a cup of expensive mealworms trying to lure them in. And now I know those hens will be traumatized and will not come when I call them for at least a week.

My husband has been out of town for 8 days now (2 to go), and so whenever I go anywhere, I have to round them up and put them in the run.

They have grown quite suspicious by now!

 

[ella2025]

My husband has been out of town for 8 days now (2 to go), and so whenever I go anywhere, I have to round them up and put them in the run.

They have grown quite suspicious by now!

Lol, I'm so paranoid of predators and them going deep into the surrounding Forest that I only let them out 1-2x per day while I watch them like a hawk. And also if they get more than 20 feet away from me I panic and call them back. It's exhausting but worth it in my mind lol.

 

[GApeachmama]

So I now have 3 layers in 3 days! Still found myself checking vents to identify the new layer. I’m pulling at straws at this point. Oh and this layer dropped it on the poop shelf. If I’m correct with my guess it’s my spazz. So dropping it in the sh*t shelf makes A LOT of sense.