Is this true?

[ozark_chickies]

Quote:
We have 14 nest boxes in the 'big girl' side of my hen house. I have 36 LF hens, and they use maybe 6 of the boxes. One Buff Orpington makes a new nest in the same spot of the floor, and lays everyday. One of my RIRs and a Dominque will sneak over to the banty part of the house and lay in the smaller boxes we have there. There is always a line for the favorite nest boxes. Silly chickens.

I have nest egg gourds, and fake eggs in the boxes, and they get kicked out too.

 

[Fierlin1182]

Quote:
move out of town

I couldn't manage it. I'm so used to having the department stores five minutes down the road.

And where would we be without the awesome beach jetties, regular flight paths, city lights at night...

 

[Starlight 451]

Hey guys,
Wow I didn't expect to get so many replies!
Wolftracks your chickens sound amazing, loved some of your stories

I tend to leave an egg inside the nest each time I collect them. For the same reason, to keep them laying there.
Finding new nests is a pain in our backyard.

 

[deerman]

Quote:
more truth to that than most want to believe.........its not if they see you , but they want to lay where they layed their last egg. now if only a few nest boxes they may go back'.

if you don't leave a nest egg , with a free range chicken YES SHE WILL KEEP MOVING HER NEST. So thats where that story can from.

For all those that though that was funny.........try finding a free range game hens nest ,you learn real fast to leave a nest egg. I had them hide nest so well ,next thing you know her they come with peeps.

 

[Mendin Fences]

ray's two cents :

I wish we could have a rooster, you guys have the most awesome broody stories

You don't need a rooster to make a hen broody.​

 

[Fierlin1182]

Quote:
You don't need a rooster to make a hen broody.

I'd kinda feel bad having her sit on infertile eggs though

 

[Linn Bee]

I hope this is the right spot for my question. Right now only 4 of my 10 hens are laying -- I think they are the brahmas. I just started getting eggs on Sunday. I now have collected a baker's dozen. . . yum! I haven't seen any of the Australorps in the nesting boxes yet.

I have been keeping my flock in the coop and play yard for most of the day so they don't start laying eggs back in the woods, under the deck, behind the work shop, in the turn-around, you get the picture - these girls are all over the yard.

I know how much they LOVE to get out and I LOVE the reduction in feed costs, but I got the chicks for their egg laying abilities and I want eggs.

Question: Will individual hens go back to the coop to lay their eggs if I let them out to free range early in the day? I know they make their way back for drinks and snacks throughout the day. Too many places to rest without wasting time in their coop.

Love, Linn B (aka Smart Red) Gardening zone 5a - 4b in south-est, central-est Wisconsin

 

[teach1rusl]

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I've never heard that before, but I still am very discreet when I'm collecting their eggs...lol. I know it's crazy, but I don't want them to see me "robbing" them...

 

[teach1rusl]

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I've never had issues with hidden eggs, and my girls free range on our fence few acres. I have two coops, and they have laid in "the other" coop, but no hidden egg issues. If you're worried about it though, just let them out after prime laying hours are over...