laying eggs at roost! help!

[millicent]

Not sure whats going on here...yesterday i found an egg beneath the roosts, and assumed that someone had rolled it there and eaten it, but when i went out this morning, there was another one, and i am positive that one of my girls is laying from the roost! the worst part of this is that its my girl who lays 'softball' eggs...the biggest ones we have...is there anything i can do to stop this madness??????? I have two nesting boxes for 5 ladies, and this girl (i think its one of my BOs) has always been the best layer, and will lay in either box. any thoughts? thanks in advance

 

[DuckLady]

I get that now and then. She should cycle around to laying in the daytime again. Hens don't lay exactly every 24 hours, so she is going round the clock. She will be back to normal soon. If you know if she is laying right after going to roost or early int he morning, maybe you can have a light on so she thinks it is morning (or afternoon still) and will go lay in the nest box. Are the shells thick and hard? Maybe she can use some extra calcium in her diet. The egg might be "ready" to lay if there is not enough calcium to coat her shell and it just falls out. Or maybe add an extra thick layer of bedding so they don't break.

 

[millicent]

she is laying during the day....i think...she usually lays at 9-ish, and there was no egg when i let them out yesterday, but when my DD went to collect eggs she found it. i will check the shell for thickness.. thanks so much! forget crying over spilt milk....THIS is something to cry about!

 

[bigzio]

millicent, extra cacium is very important for hard egg shells. Oyster shells can be provided free choice in a extra feeder, that works best cause the hens eat as much as needed. It is also a good idea to save your egg shells from the eggs you eat. Rinse under the faucet, dry on paper towels, crush wirh your hand to smaller pieces and feed back to your flock, they are almost 100% calcium, needed by your laying hens.

bigzio

 

[DementedHam]

Maybe try adding another nest. I have two nests for 4 hens but I used to have one. I added another because when my leghorn would be in the nest, the dominant ones took her out to lay their eegs so she layed on floor. The chickens would see the lonely egg and poke it until they ate it. The second nest stopped this, it might work for you.

I do agree with bigzio though...try calcium first and see what happens.

 

[millicent]

thanks so much for the suggestions! they are getting pleny of calcium, as far as i can tell...i give them egg shells relatively often, and the shells are nice and firm. i am starting to think that she was on a weird schedule, as the egg dropping seems to have stopped (although one of my hens is now trying to find a spot to have a brood where i wont find them.) They are funny with the laying, since they all take turns during the day and return to the coop (for the most part) to lay, each at a different time, but i may add another box just the same.
thanks again!
-patty

 

[Malibufarmer]

i have had that happen once it no nig deal she should be back to normal soon.

 

[marko15]

I mounted a piece of chicken wire about 4 inches under the entire roosting perch and this takes care of the occasional nighttime egg

 

[chickenwoods]

Hey Millicent,or anyone?Is it ok to substitute oyster shell with Egg shells from your own flock,and store bought egg shells(bc i dont have many hens....yet?)

Or if not could i at least use less oystershell and mix egg shell in. too save money on oyster shell?