We have 5 silkies hens around 5 months old, and Prickles is our first layer! Her first 2 eggs were around 35g, then her third egg yesterday was a giant 56g double-yolker! Today's was back to 35 grams.
The thing is, even laying her small eggs seems distressing for her- it's a 2.5 to 3 hour ordeal of her sitting on the nest making the laying song, then running around the coop sqwarking, then back on the nest, then off again... it really is like the poor darling is in labour and yelling 'My bummm huuurts!' When she finally lays she rushes out and has a big drink.
So is this normal behaviour or could she actually be distressed!? One of the other hens laid her fist egg this afternoon, and she was so casual and easygoing about the whole thing.
The thing is, even laying her small eggs seems distressing for her- it's a 2.5 to 3 hour ordeal of her sitting on the nest making the laying song, then running around the coop sqwarking, then back on the nest, then off again... it really is like the poor darling is in labour and yelling 'My bummm huuurts!' When she finally lays she rushes out and has a big drink.
So is this normal behaviour or could she actually be distressed!? One of the other hens laid her fist egg this afternoon, and she was so casual and easygoing about the whole thing.
