Interesting experiment

[AllenK RGV]

Our egg production has dropped off dramatically and it didn't last year. It is not winter here just the light is getting shorter.

So tonight at dog feeding o'clock we served a three course meal. First was the raw egg so we can find our egg predators. 2 dogs were confused 1 was quick on the draw, and the sneaky one was sure it was a trap.

Regardless the one that jumped that egg the fastest is obviously the one to track for finding those hidden free range nests as she is bullheaded and not afraid of stern commands.

 

[DiYMama540]

Wonderful idea for finding your egg eater!

 

[AllenK RGV]

Was funny the sneaky gal picked her egg up and dropped it right off cause she knows there is heck to pay and keeps her eye on us when on the hunt for eggs so we never catch her in the act. We have caught her several times with eggs. She is a rescue and fears either of our raised voices, but is a Lab and genetically programmed to eat compost, trash, or eggs. When I handed her the egg she finally felt comfortable enough to eat it.
So we just need to follow the bold and just don't care gal alone to find them without sneaky around.

The confused gals never bothered with the raw eggs as they don't see them as food was my read.

 

[AllenK RGV]

Wonderful idea for finding your egg eater!

Eaters we have 2 of them on the plus side their coats have gotten quite shiny! Still not to the point you can see sneaky at night her nickname is "Midnight" and has been for years. Gal can hide in the least bit of shadow imaginable.

 

[DiYMama540]

I'm sure it's a team effort! Silly human...you will never catch us!!

 

[SueT]

What age are your hens? The pullets in first laying season often keep laying thru the winter, but by 2nd winter, it is common for them to drop off or cease laying when days get short.

 

[AllenK RGV]

What age are your hens? The pullets in first laying season often keep laying thru the winter, but by 2nd winter, it is common for them to drop off or cease laying when days get short.

My 4 sumatra hens are about 18 months, the 12 silkie hens are 7 months and no clue on the feral hen.

It isn't really winter where I live though, except for the sunlight. I do hear people use artifical lighting in winter to improve or maintain production, but it has been a dramatic reduction this year.

 

[SueT]

My 4 sumatra hens are about 18 months, the 12 silkie hens are 7 months and no clue on the feral hen.

It isn't really winter where I live though, except for the sunlight.

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Okay, well at that age, the elder hens may indeed stop laying until spring. It has all to do with amount of sunlight, not weather or temps. Have the silkies begun laying? I have had pullets who matured late in the season, wait until spring to lay their first eggs.

 

[AllenK RGV]

Okay, well at that age, the elder hens may indeed stop laying until spring. It has all to do with amount of sunlight, not weather or temps. Have the silkies begun laying? I have had pullets who matured late in the season, wait until spring to lay their first eggs.

Yes the silkies have been laying and they are allowed to free range a portion of the day as they insist on being freed from their run. The like grass and almost any flower or bug.

 

[AllenK RGV]

We finally found the hidden nest and sneaky showed us where it was! I counted three egg butts this AM and now there are only two. Wife secretly tracked sneaky and I followed couldn't give two flips.