Just practising? Or should I keep searching?

[Honeybear77]

This our first flock of chickens so just learning! I’m unsure of exact age but they probably hatched in June and it’s just a bunch of barnyard mixed bantams. Anyway, we got our first egg last week and now am familiar with what it looks like when she goes to lay. So today another one was doing the same things. In and out of the coop, making lots of noise, agitated. Then she was in the coop for quite awhile. She eventually came out and rejoined the flock and returned to her normal self. I went to collect the egg I was sure would be there and nothing! She had clearly been making nests in the boxes and one on the coop floor even. I checked all around the run and the yard and can’t see an egg. Is it possible she was just practising?? The other one didn’t do that stuff that I noticed until the day she actually laid an egg. But she did lay it on the ground in front of the run, while we were watching lol. Every other egg is in the nest boxes though. Thanks!

 

[Rammy]

Probably getting ready to lay.

 

[sourland]

The second hen is just getting ready - maybe tomorrow.

 

[Honeybear77]

Probably getting ready to lay.

The second hen is just getting ready - maybe tomorrow.

perfect. Thanks. It seemed so imminent, I was worried she’s holding onto it somehow or hid it somewhere.
I just had surgery two weeks ago, so I have a LOT of time to stare at the chickens lol.

 

[One Lucky Momma]

Practice makes perfect! Isn’t it fascinating? I think eventually most of them get the hang of it but even then each one is different. Most of our 9 are pretty straightforward, into the nest box and out within a half hour or so, having laid their precious gift, but one must be sitting on the edge of the box as I’ll find her egg in the bedding below. And one who can’t use a box but makes a lovely nest in a corner of the coop. And one girl who practiced sitting in the boxes for weeks, shopping, I guess. And one who bombs it from the roost (there may be some pathology going on with that one).

You’re one of the lucky folks if you have the time and curiosity to watch the girls going through this phase of their development. I think it makes each egg that much more precious. Plus, if you know them this well from this point, you’ll be quick to spot abnormalities should they arise in the future.

enjoy! and I hope your recovery is smooth and quick.

 

[ackie]

If you're eating the eggs, tiny bantam eggs happen to be pretty much the perfect size to go on a burger.

 

[Honeybear77]

If you're eating the eggs, tiny bantam eggs happen to be pretty much the perfect size to go on a burger.

we are eating them! They are so adorable! And delicious! We ended up with bantams because it was really hard to get pullets this summer due to everyone getting pandemic chickens, so we got these mutts from a family friend. We knew the eggs would be small, but I think we were still surprised at how small lol.

Those eggs are from the middle brown bird.

 

[ackie]

we are eating them! They are so adorable! And delicious! We ended up with bantams because it was really hard to get pullets this summer due to everyone getting pandemic chickens, so we got these mutts from a family friend. We knew the eggs would be small, but I think we were still surprised at how small lol.
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If you're sassy like me, you can ask a family member how many eggs they want and then make them that number of bantam eggs, which will be totally less than they expect.

 

[Honeybear77]

If you're sassy like me, you can ask a family member how many eggs they want and then make them that number of bantam eggs, which will be totally less than they expect.

We saved them up for a week so everyone could have one on Saturday. No body was full lol

 

[ackie]

Once you start making proper breakfast with them, you'll feel awful about how many eggs it takes to make an actual meal. LOL
And forget using them as eggs in recipes unless you find a good conversion factor. (Though I used store eggs in baking anyway since I know the measurements have to be 'just right')