New to BYC from Northern California

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SilkieRose said:
Thanks!!! I just got another egg! I guess I have a mid-day layer
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the younger one has only had one verifiable egg. This one is my Valentine hatch!
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Question- what noise do they usually make when they feel the need to lay? Is it the loud noise or the inner growl thing they do? Lol I'm sure they have names, but I'm a newbie
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Hello and welcome from another N. Californian! Congrats on the eggs. The "egg song" is a loud Bagaawk, often repeated over and over, sometimes before they lay, sometimes after, and some don't do it at all. The only time I heard growling, was when my hen was broody and wanted to be left alone on the nest.
 
I have 2 ladies... The 2nd day after I brought them home I got 2 eggs; one a little different than the other. Now the last 3 days I have only gotten one egg/day. Does anybody know if this happens when they first start laying? The one that I don't think is laying has only had one verified egg when I bought her. Will she just start up again? I'm afraid of her getting backed up. I've seen her in the nesting box, but I haven't had her lay anything after her pit stops :)
 
There are lots of things that can cause a hen to lay inconsistently or stop altogether. The breed: Some breeds only lay 3-4 eggs per week. Even with the best layers, you can't expect an egg every day. Age: New laying pullets will sometimes take a while to get into the swing of it. Some older hens will slow down as they age. Molting: A hen with a severe molt may stop for weeks and can be inconsistent when starting back up. Stress: A move to a new coop or home, new flock additions, or a predator scare can cause laying to stop briefly. Broodiness: When a hen gets the urge to hatch eggs, she will sit on a nest, often cease laying, and may stay this way for weeks. Some breeds are broodier than others. Winter darkness: Some hens are quite sensitive to the lack of light during the winter months, and many stop laying for several weeks until the days begin to lengthen.

Of course there are medical problems that cause egg laying to stop. Look for other symptoms: lack of energy, disinterest in food, poor breathing, discharge from eyes or nose, bloody poop, evidence of mites. Feel her abdomen down low under her legs to see if you can feel an egg. I think if they are egg bound they do not act normally.

There are lots of scary things, but considering you just got her, I would expect she's just taking a while to adjust. How old is she and what breed? Are there others, or just the two?
 
Wishing4Wings said:
There are lots of things that can cause a hen to lay inconsistently or stop altogether. The breed: Some breeds only lay 3-4 eggs per week. Even with the best layers, you can't expect an egg every day. Age: New laying pullets will sometimes take a while to get into the swing of it. Some older hens will slow down as they age. Molting: A hen with a severe molt may stop for weeks and can be inconsistent when starting back up. Stress: A move to a new coop or home, new flock additions, or a predator scare can cause laying to stop briefly. Broodiness: When a hen gets the urge to hatch eggs, she will sit on a nest, often cease laying, and may stay this way for weeks. Some breeds are broodier than others. Winter darkness: Some hens are quite sensitive to the lack of light during the winter months, and many stop laying for several weeks until the days begin to lengthen.

Of course there are medical problems that cause egg laying to stop. Look for other symptoms: lack of energy, disinterest in food, poor breathing, discharge from eyes or nose, bloody poop, evidence of mites. Feel her abdomen down low under her legs to see if you can feel an egg. I think if they are egg bound they do not act normally.

There are lots of scary things, but considering you just got her, I would expect she's just taking a while to adjust. How old is she and what breed? Are there others, or just the two?
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Was just looking to see what you have and didn't even notice your question had been answered.

In case you don't know there is a Poultry show in Stockton this weekend. Lots of people already there and more coming. This is the biggest show on the west coast and it's held at the fairgrounds. Maybe you should take a day trip tomorrow. Sunday they coop out at 11am, so saturday is always the best chicken day. There's also a banquet after the show tomorrow night and you could meet lots of chicken people or just talk to people during the day. We all like talking chickens.
 
Wishing4Wings said:
There are lots of things that can cause a hen to lay inconsistently or stop altogether.  The breed: Some breeds only lay 3-4 eggs per week. Even with the best layers, you can't expect an egg every day. Age: New laying pullets will sometimes take a while to get into the swing of it. Some older hens will slow down as they age. Molting: A hen with a severe molt may stop for weeks and can be inconsistent when starting back up. Stress: A move to a new coop or home, new flock additions, or a predator scare can cause laying to stop briefly. Broodiness: When a hen gets the urge to hatch eggs, she will sit on a nest, often cease laying, and may stay this way for weeks. Some breeds are broodier than others. Winter darkness: Some hens are quite sensitive to the lack of light during the winter months, and many stop laying for several weeks until the days begin to lengthen.

Of course there are medical problems that cause egg laying to stop. Look for other symptoms: lack of energy, disinterest in food, poor breathing, discharge from eyes or nose, bloody poop, evidence of mites. Feel her abdomen down low under her legs to see if you can feel an egg. I think if they are egg bound they do not act normally.

There are lots of scary things, but considering you just got her, I would expect she's just taking a while to adjust. How old is she and what breed? Are there others, or just the two?
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She was hatched in June and they are both 1/2 ameraucana
 
Th
wolftracks said:
Was just looking to see what you have and didn't even notice your question had been answered.

In case you don't know there is a Poultry show in Stockton this weekend. Lots of people already there and more coming. This is the biggest show on the west coast and it's held at the fairgrounds. Maybe you should take a day trip tomorrow. Sunday they coop out at 11am, so saturday is always the best chicken day. There's also a banquet after the show tomorrow night and you could meet lots of chicken people or just talk to people during the day. We all like talking chickens.
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Thanks for the info! I can't go yet.... I have eggs in the incubator that I built. They have to be turned 3x's / day :) it would be fun to go! I am homeschooling my 10 year old & 3 year old. It's so fun to go on exploratory field trips.
 

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