Leghorn Thread

[billkaroly]

I took production eggs from the kitchen a week before they started to lay and placed one each in the nesting boxes. So far so good. I have three boxes and egs have been laid in all of them but the middle seems to be the most popular.

 

[darajosami]

I took production eggs from the kitchen a week before they started to lay and placed one each in the nesting boxes. So far so good. I have three boxes and egs have been laid in all of them but the middle seems to be the most popular.

What do you mean by production eggs? Are they store bought eggs? Do you make sure they are room temp first? Also does it matter if they are different colors to the ones they will lay?

 

[billkaroly]

What do you mean by production eggs? Are they store bought eggs? Do you make sure they are room temp first? Also does it matter if they are different colors to the ones they will lay?

Yes. Store bought. Straight from the fridge to the nesting boxes. I marked them just in case one of the Leghorn started to lay. After a week I took them out. Some of the birds were sitting in the boxes but not laying yet so I figured they had a pretty good idea what the boxes were for. Seems to be working out quite well so far.

 

[Alaskan]

I bought some wooden eggs to use as "please lay eggs here" markers.

My grandmother used stone eggs, until rat snakes ate them all.

 

[billkaroly]

I bought some wooden eggs to use as "please lay eggs here" markers.

My grandmother used stone eggs, until rat snakes ate them all.

That's pretty funny. I watched a video on YouTube where a woman tested fake eggs on one of her hens vs a real egg and the real egg won every time. The chicken was no dumb bird. That's why I decided to go with a real egg.I've seen wooden egg ads locally on Craigslist but thought try the real ones first.

 

[darajosami]

Yes. Store bought. Straight from the fridge to the nesting boxes. I marked them just in case one of the Leghorn started to lay. After a week I took them out. Some of the birds were sitting in the boxes but not laying yet so I figured they had a pretty good idea what the boxes were for. Seems to be working out quite well so far.

Ok thanks, will try as I have golf balls right now

 

[4Hgirl]

I took production eggs from the kitchen a week before they started to lay and placed one each in the nesting boxes. So far so good. I have three boxes and egs have been laid in all of them but the middle seems to be the most popular.

At what age did they start laying? You must have it down to a science to know a week before they lay! We have 15 hatchery leghorns that are about three months old. Anxiously awaiting those first eggs. I'd love to have an idea of when they might just do it.

 

[CountryLife4Me]

That's pretty funny. I watched a video on YouTube where a woman tested fake eggs on one of her hens vs a real egg and the real egg won every time. The chicken was no dumb bird. That's why I decided to go with a real egg.I've seen wooden egg ads locally on Craigslist but thought try the real ones first.

I've had the same experience. I read on this forum about using wooden eggs, golf balls and plastic Easter eggs. My chickens pushed the wooden eggs out of the nest every time. They refused to use the box with the golf balls in it. And they pecked the plastic eggs every time until they cracked them open. I've given up on all those methods. I finally put some real eggs in each box (2 in each because 1 didn't work) and they are using both boxes now. The only problem is that leaving the eggs in the box all the time is making my Delaware want to sit on them. I don't think she's full-fledged broody or anything because I can take the eggs away for a day or two and she immediately goes back to normal. But then after a few days of the eggs being back in the box, she wants to sit on them again. So frustrating.

 

[billkaroly]

I had read that leghorns in particular can start laying around 17 weeks so I was ready for them.

 

[billkaroly]

It's been my experience that chickens are not the dumb birds their reputation says they are.