I have 5 EE hens. The oldest one used to be a good layer, she laid everyday. Then she started hiding them and we didn't get one from her for like 8 months. (free range). Then I had 4 more that were like 9 months old. I'd seen them laying in different hiden places every once in a while. But I would never get any EE eggs in the nest boxes. And when I would finally find where they were hiding them, they would move to a new spot.
Well I decided enough was enough. I build a wonderful coop, and locked them up. They have a run, and nice comfy nest boxes now. BUT! I'm still only getting 0-2 eggs a day. Stinkers. I know they can lay I've seen them. But they seem determined to get on my last nerve. The older hen has laid an egg every day for the past 2-3 days I think. But the others haven't laid a thing. I thought chickens couldn't hold them in. I figured they would have to lay now, but they aren't. They've been in their coop for around 2 weeks now. I figured they might be stressed and not lay for a while. But this is ridiculous. I want eggs. lol
I have noticed that the rooster likes to lay in the nest boxes during the day. (I think it's part of their little game not to give me eggs.)
So perhaps he is scaring them away from laying. Everytime I catch him in there I throw him out. The hens act like they are laying. They get up their, scratch around, and nest. But after like 5-10 minutes they get up and no eggs. I've watched them for hours trying to see if they are maybe eating them but I don't think they are. They are just not laying.
My hens have never stopped laying. Mine don't get stressed or anything cause they are well taken care of. But this is all getting very fustrating. It's been over a year since I gotten more that an egg a day (combined) out of these 5 hens! Is there anything I can do to induce them to lay?
Well I decided enough was enough. I build a wonderful coop, and locked them up. They have a run, and nice comfy nest boxes now. BUT! I'm still only getting 0-2 eggs a day. Stinkers. I know they can lay I've seen them. But they seem determined to get on my last nerve. The older hen has laid an egg every day for the past 2-3 days I think. But the others haven't laid a thing. I thought chickens couldn't hold them in. I figured they would have to lay now, but they aren't. They've been in their coop for around 2 weeks now. I figured they might be stressed and not lay for a while. But this is ridiculous. I want eggs. lol
I have noticed that the rooster likes to lay in the nest boxes during the day. (I think it's part of their little game not to give me eggs.)
So perhaps he is scaring them away from laying. Everytime I catch him in there I throw him out. The hens act like they are laying. They get up their, scratch around, and nest. But after like 5-10 minutes they get up and no eggs. I've watched them for hours trying to see if they are maybe eating them but I don't think they are. They are just not laying.
My hens have never stopped laying. Mine don't get stressed or anything cause they are well taken care of. But this is all getting very fustrating. It's been over a year since I gotten more that an egg a day (combined) out of these 5 hens! Is there anything I can do to induce them to lay?
