Mystery solved

[LoneCowboy]

I built 4 nesting boxes together. All identical side by side, but the chicken lay in the first one, and the last two, but I only ever get 1 egg if any in the second one. Couldn't figure it out, because when I put the girls to bed, they are all on the roosts.

So last night, I let my dog, Goliath, out before bed time, and he was barking up a storm. My dog is a great dane, and he never barks at anything. Seriously, I think he only barks in his sleep when he's having a dream about being a real dog. Never even lets us know if people are here.

So, I figured if he was barking, it must be serious. I go out and don't see anything, so I decide to check on the chickens. Open the coop, shine a light in there, and guess what? There's an SLW sleeping in the second nesting box. I'd kick her out if the other girls didn't pick on her so much. So I feel it's her safe place and I'll tolerate it for her sake.

 

[lurky]

I took all the dividers out of our nest boxes so it is one big nest box and they LOVE it. They can all lay in there at the same time. They used to only use one all the time, now they use the entire thing.

 

[paganfish]

Quote:
OK I'll bite...what's an SLW?

 

[LittleChickenRacingTeam]

SLW=silver laced wyandotte

 

[LittleChickenRacingTeam]

kinda looks like a large silver sebright...

 

[paganfish]

Quote:
OHHH! Is that it? I thought it meant some kind of *other* type of critter. Duh!

Thanks for clearing it up!

What a beautiful bird...wow!

 

[s6bee]

I have a couple of the SLW, they keep to themselves and are a bit more skittish than the others but I love them. They are so pretty. I really want a Blue Red laced Wyandotte. I think I got that right.
I only want one, gosh, how do I go about that??

 

[johnnyjack]

so what ur saying is if i got a box thats never layed in,its a good guess that its being slept in ....i got 4 boxes and they never lay in the bottom 2 always in the top 2

 

[Farmer Kitty]

I've got 8 boxes for 12 pullets. The top left box they rarely lay in but, I have seen them sleeping in any of the bottom row of boxes. Still haven't figured out their aversion to that top left box.

***trouble telling left and right today. I think it's naptime-don't I wish!-it's chores time!

 

[LoneCowboy]

Very possible. I guess the one egg I get in there is from the hen that sleeps in there. Funny girls.

SLW's are very pretty, and skittish. My other girls seem to pick at there feathers though. One of my SLW's back between her wings is totally featherless.