No eggs STILL, and nest box questions UPDATE

[picklespickles]

well, mine don't. but i guess it could be a problem. i just figured you were so excited you'd be out there several times the first day.

 

[Catalina]

I'm waiting for my girls to start laying too.
It's sooo frustrating, isn't it!?
They're not squating yet so I have a while to wait.
I made up this cake recipe for people waiting for their chickens to start laying.

(You don't need eggs)
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=24753

 

[Mountain Man Jim]

Buckets: They sit on their side. Rocks, blocks or whatever, keep them from rolling away. The "curtain" is a rag cut in strips and tied around the bucket.

Jim

 

[Agilityscots]

Hi everyone,

Just have to share this...I went out to check on the girls this morning because someone was making a HORRIBLE racket. Maybe this was what Mountain Man Jim was talking about? Three girls were in the run, and one of the Doms was in the nest box! She was scratching and turning this way and that!! I couldn't believe it! So I think we are VERY close to eggs, maybe even today...when this sort of thing happens, do they lay that same day? Or do they "work up" to it? It's taking every ounce of self-control to not just park a chair next to the open coop door and stare in there. Oh, and the fact that it's 35 degrees outside helps, too.

Also, the other girls seem extremely curious...they're crowding around Zipper in the nest box, watching her very closely and even trying to get in there with her. How amusing! I tried kicking them out but they just hop back in. Ophelia, the GLW, also seems "nesty". She's trying to squeeze herself into the small space between the nest box and the wall, and she was actually the one making all the horrible racket in the run.

Is today the day?????

Amy

 

[doghamstyluv95]

It could be. When my girls started laying, they were restless for a few days. So you may have to wait a few more days or today could be the day!

 

[Agilityscots]

Quote:
Oh, now this will be torture. I'm entirely prepared to waste the whole day running out to the coop to check repeatedly...but I can't waste the whole weekend!

Amy

 

[LoneCowboy]

Maybe the other one is telling the nest hog to HURRY UP!! like kids waiting for the bathroom. Oh, you are very close could take a couple of hours. You have to post a picture of if you know.

 

[Agilityscots]

Quote:
Well, they all tired of the nest box, and we're still eggless. Little stinkers. There was much commotion this morning, with all the scratching and nesting and nosy onlookers, but now they're all flitting around doing their pullet thang in the run. I tried having a serious chat with them about their egg-laying duties but they just whined and bawked at me, and Ruby pecked at my hair and tried to eat it.

Maybe better luck tomorrow...

Amy

 

[speckledhen]

Amy, didn't you see that tiny plaque they posted at the back of each nestbox? The one that says, "Keep 'em guessing!"?

 

[Agilityscots]

Apparently all the brouhaha from yesterday was nothing more than a false alarm. Today, none of the girls are even slightly interested in the nestbox, and when I threw more shavings into the box they all just stared at me and whined for treats. I think one of them might have even yawned. Grrrr....

"Keep 'em guessing" is right. I don't even know if we'll have eggs before Christmas, at this rate. I so wanted to prepare a quiche for Christmas Eve brunch with eggs from my own chickens!

Amy

P.S. They are also completely unimpressed with scratch. I finally bought a fifty-pound bag yesterday and they pecked at it like I'd just offered them paper shavings. I'm starting to feel VERY combative towards my chickens!!!