Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[RaZ]

One of the girls laid the first tiny egg right on the open yard next to the food. The nest boxes are open and the coop is open. One got in and felt around but guess decided to leave it outside. Is this going to be the new normal to lay eggs? well, not the size but the location is my concern.

I get that every now and again. Allowing the chickens to free range I sometimes find an egg in odd places. Once in a flower pot on the porch. Another time I found 2 eggs on the floor of my UTV. Crazy chickens.

 

[Dreamzchaser]

I get that every now and again. Allowing the chickens to free range I sometimes find an egg in odd places. Once in a flower pot on the porch. Another time I found 2 eggs on the floor of my UTV. Crazy chickens.

I am afraid of anything taking the eggs. I have moles here.

 

[RaZ]

I am afraid of anything taking the eggs. I have moles here.

I don't think moles will take eggs..

 

[Dreamzchaser]

By the way, I found these by the big pine tree on the side of the house. Hope are from birds and not snakes. Any thoughts?

 

[Sally PB]

By the way, I found these by the big pine tree on the side of the house. Hope are from birds and not snakes. Any thoughts?

It looks like a robin's egg.

 

[Sally PB]

@Dreamzchaser, my very first egg was laid in the run. The second one was in the coop, near the pop door. I put a board over that spot, and the next one was just farther down the wall. Here's what I did that fixed the problem.

My nest boxes are 18" off the coop floor, and inside. I took one off the wall and put it on the floor where the egg was laid near the pop door. I put a couple of boards on the floor down that wall, so that they wouldn't just keep moving to a new area there. Except for a couple "oops" eggs from the roost (common in new layers, I guess), all the eggs have been in the nest boxes from then on.

I started putting bricks under the nest box, raising it up a few inches at a time, until it was almost back to the original height. Then I just reattached it to the wall.

 

[Dreamzchaser]

@Dreamzchaser, my very first egg was laid in the run. The second one was in the coop, near the pop door. I put a board over that spot, and the next one was just farther down the wall. Here's what I did that fixed the problem.

My nest boxes are 18" off the coop floor, and inside. I took one off the wall and put it on the floor where the egg was laid near the pop door. I put a couple of boards on the floor down that wall, so that they wouldn't just keep moving to a new area there. Except for a couple "oops" eggs from the roost (common in new layers, I guess), all the eggs have been in the nest boxes from then on.

I started putting bricks under the nest box, raising it up a few inches at a time, until it was almost back to the original height. Then I just reattached it to the wall.

Oh, She is recorded,lol Saw in the camera back playing that she was sitting there fora while. Then came out and laid the egg. Silly hen!

 

[Frankiegirl]

I get that every now and again. Allowing the chickens to free range I sometimes find an egg in odd places. Once in a flower pot on the porch. Another time I found 2 eggs on the floor of my UTV. Crazy chickens.

I guess that’s why they call it an Easter egg hunt!!!

 

[Frankiegirl]

***UPDATE*** Butterscotch’s eye swelling is going down and her inflammation looks to be improving. It is open now. Looks like maybe she was pecked by another bird, but she looks to be on the mend.

Will keep an eye on her for the next few days, but I want to THANK YOU for all of your help!! Fingers crossed she continues to improve.

 

[1muttsfan]

My partial run cover has three panels, opaque on the sides and clear up the middle. It allows in just enough light, while still providing shade. I would think that all clear panels would produce something like a greenhouse effect, concentrating heat underneath.
Shade is really important in the summertime for birds, as they can easily overheat in the sun or in a hot coop. I have a 50% shade cloth that I put over about half of the uncovered part of the run in the summertime.