Newbie question

[Rmstuck]

Do you think letting eggs sit in the nesting boxes for a little while helps encourage other chickens to lay or should I just grab them right away while the eggs are still warm? All my birds are old enough to lay but some of them seem to not lay consistently yet. I am just trying to figure these crazy birds out.

 

[mickey328]

I gather several times a day since we're able to. I prefer not to have them there too long...they sometimes get stepped on and end up with a "dent"...they also seem to get poopier if they're in there a long time. If you want to encourage the others, you can gather the real ones and stick in a couple of fake eggs or even golf balls. With even one laying, the others will learn from her and get the idea...the fake eggs are a good reinforcement, too.

 

[92Pony]

I have recently used fake wooden eggs. Not only does it help give them the idea, I have witnessed mine peck on the wooden egg before. I like that they get the idea of, "Hey, this brown oval thing is hard, and I get no reward from pecking on it.

"

Wade