Questions on first year of eggs

[furbabymum]

My birds are 2 and I'm looking forward to eggs this year. We did get a few last year. We found them in various places as our birds are free range.

So my questions, If I put a large board with hay on it in the barn will they nest and lay there? They sleep in there but have not lain any eggs there thus far.

If I want to be sure to find the eggs do I have to lock them up all day?
If I do have to lock them up what is the laying season so I can let them back out eventually.

Anything else you can think of would be great!

 

[zazouse]

Peas lay where peas want to lay locked up or not but unless you want to hunt eggs all breeding season it is best to lock them up. They will lay a decoy nest while laying a clutch else where then just disappear on you to set that clutch and then it will be even harder to find them , because when they are laying they will come back honking making it easier to find their nest, once they start sitting they only come up every few days and i had one go 7 days before coming home so i could find her nest.

This hidden hen layed 4 eggs before i finely located her nest, they hide very very well even in the open sometimes.

 

[furbabymum]

So when should I start locking them up??? I can. We put a door to the barn because of great horned owls. I just don't normally close it.

 

[furbabymum]

Can I let them out in the evening or is that a bad idea?

How long is breeding season?

Jees I'm ignorant!

 

[DylansMom]

Can I let them out in the evening or is that a bad idea?

How long is breeding season?

Jees I'm ignorant!

Our breeding season in Pa will start mid April usually and they can continue to lay as late as Sept. They lay their eggs in the evening, usually right around sunset, so I wouldn't recommend letting them out in the evening. If you want to try a little free time maybe try morning as opposed to evening.