So, I'm home sick with the crud relaxing, the chickens are out running about the yard in their usual gently destructive manner when my Australorp, Sheila, starts in screeching and yelling over along the side of the house. I go out there, sure that she's laid an egg and pull apart vincas and other vines; nothing but a small carved out depression she's made by the exit ramp to the cat and dog door. I eye her, she eyes me and I go back in. I should mention that she's been coming up and squatting at my feet for a few days now.
About 10 minutes later, I go back out and find her sitting quietly in the depression she's made. No, we are not laying there. I get her and the other girls in the run and house (bribes) and leave them in much to their annoyance. Sheila and the EE start investigating the nest box in the house but don't seem that intent.
Over an hour later, I hear Sheila screeching again and I go out, check the nest box and both of the golf balls in there were knocked onto the floor of the house (over the lip of the nest box). I put the golf balls back in and once again we eye each other.
Another hour or so later the screeching starts again. But this time she's got a good reason: an egg. Finally at 26 weeks. Yeah. So I hand out the raisins all around, give a lecture to the rest of the girls and let them back out with more mutual eyeing.
From beginning to end, this process took four hours. She started the initial screeching at 12:30 pm and finally laid the egg at 4:30 pm. It was still warm when I took it in. What a drama and production!
I do have a question. Should I have moved her when she was sitting on her "nest" outside? For obvious reasons I'd rather they didn't lay by the doggie door.
Mary
About 10 minutes later, I go back out and find her sitting quietly in the depression she's made. No, we are not laying there. I get her and the other girls in the run and house (bribes) and leave them in much to their annoyance. Sheila and the EE start investigating the nest box in the house but don't seem that intent.
Over an hour later, I hear Sheila screeching again and I go out, check the nest box and both of the golf balls in there were knocked onto the floor of the house (over the lip of the nest box). I put the golf balls back in and once again we eye each other.
Another hour or so later the screeching starts again. But this time she's got a good reason: an egg. Finally at 26 weeks. Yeah. So I hand out the raisins all around, give a lecture to the rest of the girls and let them back out with more mutual eyeing.
From beginning to end, this process took four hours. She started the initial screeching at 12:30 pm and finally laid the egg at 4:30 pm. It was still warm when I took it in. What a drama and production!
I do have a question. Should I have moved her when she was sitting on her "nest" outside? For obvious reasons I'd rather they didn't lay by the doggie door.
Mary
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