Nervous Mother Hen

[Moselle]

OK - It's really me

I'm getting nervous for my little pullets. They are 17 weeks old now and I finally got their next boxes set up, and at the same time noticed that my Australorp's comb and waddles have turned bright red. I feel a bit guilty since I've been dealing with "all day" morning sickness myself and haven't been as attentive to the girls as I should be.

So now that I have the nest boxes set up, should I stick a golf ball in them or wait until I've seen the first egg? They've all been digging in the sand in their run and laying down, but I assumed it's because it has been so hot. Are they really trying to make nests? If they layed an egg in the sand would they bury it?

 

[Jades Chickens]

When they dig in the dirt or sand and lay down in it what they are probably doing is dust bathing, and sunning themselves.