I have a flock of about 30 hens that I believe are hiding their nests. The flock consists of mostly RIR, BA, BO, as well as some mixed breeds. Most are just under a year old, with 2 being about 2 yrs old. Late winter, early spring, my egg production was just creeping up to about 24 a day, then it slowly dropped. I was lucky to get 8 10 a day.
I shut up the girls during the night, but let them free range during the day. And there is a lot of ground they cover. They are fed a 16% layer ration with added vitamins and calcium. I have never had soft shells, except at the beginning of their production. I rarely feed treats or scratch, except for a little BOSS in the evenings. The eggs I do get are firm shelled, with rich yolks and thick whites. I use hay in the nesting boxes and coop floor, and change it out often (we always have hay available and so is cheaper than purchasing other bedding materials). I have 6 12 x 12 nesting boxes in the house (10 x 12) and a 10 hole metal nesting box in the barn.
I have a near by hoop coop that the 4 month old pullets live in with a 12 hole nesting box in there. The hens and pullets free range together but retire to their individual houses at night. I do find a few eggs in the pullet house. All the birds seem to co-habit with out much fuss.
Occasionally I will find a hidden nest, but as soon as I do they will go somewhere else. I acquired a metal nesting box and repaired it and hung it in the barn one of their favorite hangouts. I did get a couple in there for awhile, but that stopped as well. I found an egg eater, and after removing her I started getting more eggs. I also started letting the girls out later each morning, but it is way too hot to keep them cooped up for too long.
While I am now up to about 16 18 eggs a day, I know that they are still hiding some. So my questions: what are some favorite hiding places that hens like to use. I have looked high and low in places I would think they would like. Secluded, dark, and safe. In the barn, around the barn, under the barn. I have walked the pastures, but that is a lot of ground to cover. With the wet weather, we have not been able to cut our hay fields, so there is a lot of tall grass. Do they typically lay / nest in the middle of a tall field? Or do they prefer a protected site? What does a hen look for when selecting her site? I have tried to listen for the egg song and find nests that way, but I have been unsuccessful. Obviously, I do not think like a chicken . Any help or advise would be appreciated!
I shut up the girls during the night, but let them free range during the day. And there is a lot of ground they cover. They are fed a 16% layer ration with added vitamins and calcium. I have never had soft shells, except at the beginning of their production. I rarely feed treats or scratch, except for a little BOSS in the evenings. The eggs I do get are firm shelled, with rich yolks and thick whites. I use hay in the nesting boxes and coop floor, and change it out often (we always have hay available and so is cheaper than purchasing other bedding materials). I have 6 12 x 12 nesting boxes in the house (10 x 12) and a 10 hole metal nesting box in the barn.
I have a near by hoop coop that the 4 month old pullets live in with a 12 hole nesting box in there. The hens and pullets free range together but retire to their individual houses at night. I do find a few eggs in the pullet house. All the birds seem to co-habit with out much fuss.
Occasionally I will find a hidden nest, but as soon as I do they will go somewhere else. I acquired a metal nesting box and repaired it and hung it in the barn one of their favorite hangouts. I did get a couple in there for awhile, but that stopped as well. I found an egg eater, and after removing her I started getting more eggs. I also started letting the girls out later each morning, but it is way too hot to keep them cooped up for too long.
While I am now up to about 16 18 eggs a day, I know that they are still hiding some. So my questions: what are some favorite hiding places that hens like to use. I have looked high and low in places I would think they would like. Secluded, dark, and safe. In the barn, around the barn, under the barn. I have walked the pastures, but that is a lot of ground to cover. With the wet weather, we have not been able to cut our hay fields, so there is a lot of tall grass. Do they typically lay / nest in the middle of a tall field? Or do they prefer a protected site? What does a hen look for when selecting her site? I have tried to listen for the egg song and find nests that way, but I have been unsuccessful. Obviously, I do not think like a chicken . Any help or advise would be appreciated!
