I think my Marans pullet is cheating...

[Wynette]

HA! That's funny. When I get a dirty one, I wet it, then ROLL it gently in the dishcloth, then air dry. THis way, you're not rubbing any pigment off, or not near as much, anyway.

 

[Uzuri]

My wellie was really bad about that when she first started (then we experienced several weeks of cold and she figured out where the box was).

I swear they KNOW their eggs are in high demand and just want to mess with you.

 

[chocolate m'scovy]

If you think chickens lay eggs in bad places, you've probably never had ducks!

They actually prefer laying on the ground in open spaces. Practically all of our duck eggs are stained a mucky tan. (Did I mention that ducks have no bad feelings toward mud in the first place?)

I hope you have nice cozy nest boxes for her elsewhere? My hens, if they didn't have nest boxes, would shun the mud puddle and cackle happily while laying their caches in a little crevice somewhere.

 

[alicefelldown]

Yep, had ducks, LOVED THEM. Looking forward to having enough space to house them again.

She's mostly been a box layer, this has been the only 'problem' egg that was laid in a hay nest on the ground, but then the ground became a yucky puddle. The hay and shavings became 'stuck' to the egg, hence all the scrubbing.

Her egg today was in the box, and it was beautiful.

 

[Serrin]

Quote:

Reminds me of last summer. For the life of me, I couldn't imagine where all the eggs were. 3 a day out of 10 girls just wasn't right! I discovered their little communal stash in the "Toy Shed" one day. Had to throw all of those eggs out as I had no idea how long they had been there and it was during fairly warm weather. And who wants to take a chance on an egg that hasn't been, and kept chilled in the summer?

Needless to say, we blocked the access to the deep dark hidey-hole they had discovered and haven't had that problem since. But, any time I think production is a bit on the light side, I go looking in the toy shed!

Every now and then I get lucky and find an egg at the bottom of the table saw where there's lots of nice soft sawdust! When they're not taking dust baths in it that is!

 

[chocolate m'scovy]

Alicefelldown, ducks would love your run in this weather!