Laying from the Roost

[jthornton]

I have one pullet laying from the roost. In the last 5 days she has laid 4 from the roost. They are 23 week old RIR pullets and the first one started laying at 18 weeks. I increased the light by 15 minutes in the morning yesterday. I'm not sure when she is laying it. I will go out earlier tomorrow and see if it is being laid at night before the lights come on. Any suggestions are welcome.

JT

 

[chickens really]

She possibly is just confused as to what's happening and should start using the nest boxes. Or the nest boxes are all occupied when she wants to use one?

 

[Lauren Kim]

By “laying on the roost”, do you mean that your hen is laying when she is on the roost? How high is the roost?

 

[aart]

Is she a newer layer?
Was she laying in nest previously?
Is she intimidated by the new nest bank?
Are eggs soft or thin shelled?
IIRC, they have access to nests 24/7, correct.
They can have trouble regulating when an ova is released the first month or so,
so may lay 'off schedule' ....like at night, the instinct to roost may overcome the instinct to lay in nest.

Had one bird in nest at night, thought she wanted to go broody (again),
moved her to roost and she dropped an egg the minute I set her down on roost.

 

[theoldchick]

My new layers will do that. Usually at night. I don't know if they are simply regulating the timing of when to lay an egg, or they are confused about where to lay an egg and hold it in as long as possible. I do know they usually figure out where and when as they mature. On rare occasions I've seen my dominant hen boss those lower ranked hens when they attempt to use the favorite nest box.

 

[Shadyfarms]

My pullets also laid on the roost for a couple of weeks when they started to lay. They get it figured out in time though.

 

[jthornton]

She possibly is just confused as to what's happening and should start using the nest boxes. Or the nest boxes are all occupied when she wants to use one?

She might be confused about the time for sure all 9 laid eggs the last three days. I have one large nest box, but I don't think that is the issue... I think she lays it before the lights come on.

JT

 

[jthornton]

By “laying on the roost”, do you mean that your hen is laying when she is on the roost? How high is the roost?

Yes, it's about 8" off the floor or so.

JT

 

[jthornton]

Is she a newer layer?
Was she laying in nest previously?
Is she intimidated by the new nest bank?
Are eggs soft or thin shelled?
IIRC, they have access to nests 24/7, correct.
They can have trouble regulating when an ova is released the first month or so,
so may lay 'off schedule' ....like at night, the instinct to roost may overcome the instinct to lay in nest.

Had one bird in nest at night, thought she wanted to go broody (again),
moved her to roost and she dropped an egg the minute I set her down on roost.

Hi Aart,

No they don't have access to the nest box at night, it's outside the roost area. I assume she is the last one to start laying. I'll move a camera to watch her, she is aways in the same spot.

JT

 

[jthornton]

My new layers will do that. Usually at night. I don't know if they are simply regulating the timing of when to lay an egg, or they are confused about where to lay an egg and hold it in as long as possible. I do know they usually figure out where and when as they mature. On rare occasions I've seen my dominant hen boss those lower ranked hens when they attempt to use the favorite nest box.

The eggs I found under the roost are 38g, 38g, 33g, and 44g this morning.

JT