Little Coop on Salt Creek

Songster
9 Years
Feb 20, 2016
438
370
237
Southwest Colorado
Hi fellow chickeneers!

5 days ago one of our Easter Eggers (18 weeks and 1 day) laid her first egg. Today one of our Silver Laced Wyandottes acts like she may be getting ready to lay. All in all we have 22 pullets (well 19 confirmed pullets and 3 hopeful White Silkie girls). The day our Penny laid her egg, I posted in the EE thread because I was confused by her behavior.. she was jumping high onto things, getting low into corners, throwing bedding and fake eggs out of the nest, clucking and pacing like a wild woman. She also wasn't squatting and had the palest combs of her her EE sisters, so I was pretty sure she wasn't gonna lay.. goes to show what I know! ha! I went in a few hours later and she'd laid on the floor! Today our SLW is doing the same thing, but hasn't yet seemed to touch the nest boxes though. She keeps going in the run and jumping on top of our automatic waterer reservoir and pacing in the coop. I would say, maybe she is ready to lay today.

My questions are these: 1) is this "normal" I'm gonna drop my first egg behavior? 2) will they do this everytime an egg is laid? 3) how concerned should I be that the first egg didn't make it in the nest box? 4) will our EE laying become more consistent as time goes on? Today is day #5 that we haven't gotten another egg from her. 5) do I need to be concerned she might lay outside in the run?

I put a few pics below for y'all to see our nesting boxes and first egg.
IMG_2039.JPG disaster that Penny was making prior to laying (That is NOT Penny, LOL!)

IMG_2045.JPG egg that she laid

IMG_2083.JPG nest boxes now, hoping the privacy will encourage more action

A651F3A0-B44F-40D3-AA6A-A9F8E6D5295E.JPG Sugar on top of reservoir.. hoping she doesn't choose to lay up there and drop the egg! :barnie:fl
 
Last edited:
Yep. They get very antsy. They know that some major changes are going on with their bodies, but don't know what to do about it. And, I've had pullets surprise me with their first egg when their comb/wattle development and other signs of imminent laying did not point in that direction!
 
Yep. They get very antsy. They know that some major changes are going on with their bodies, but don't know what to do about it. And, I've had pullets surprise me with their first egg when their comb/wattle development and other signs of imminent laying did not point in that direction!
I was sure I had broken my first chicken! Then I was convinced she had DONE GONE NUTS!

Will the frequency of laying improve? :fl
 
LOL...Yes, she will get into a normal laying routine pretty soon, just give them all a few weeks.
 
Morning all,
I have another question for y'all. If I'm pretty sure we will have another imminent new pullet layer today, due to crazy chick behavior , should I keep them from their morning free-range time? It happens in our backyard area and for about an hour. Any thoughts?
 

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom