She said/He said Who's right? Who's wrong? No one!

[chicapee]

Coulda been any early layer, might have been a hiccup egg, an inquisitive peck or an accidental breakage... if eggs break, they will gobble them down fast... might try sticking golf balls in the boxes, it helps sometimes to show 'safe place to lay'... although I had 6 boxes in one coop and 7 hens would line up all the way down the ramp waiting to take their turn... if they get a favorite box/place, that is the spot, lol...
Btw, was gonna mention be careful using hay in the coop... straw is better if possible... hay has moisture still in it and can mold in spots... I ended up with a coop of chooks last year that got Aspergilliosis from hay... :/

I haven't been able to find straw yet? I will keep looking. It is a mixture of hay and pine shavings. I keep the bale in my green house, do it is very dried out. But I will double check thanks for the heads up.

 

[RubyNala97]

Thank God Silkie has not been on for a while.
Oh .....lawdy!!!!

I was going to say this exact same thing today and I forgot!! Lol

My original layers (coop 1) sometimes use the box (singular, they'd only use the one) and sometimes find their own places so I am always searching in there. Though lately out of 8 layers they haven't been doing good. I've only been getting 2-3 eggs and one of those dumb silkies I took from my sister is STILL eating her eggs I think as soon as she lays them. I've been adding the oyster shell too. My 2nd coop just started laying. Today I was shocked to find 6 eggs! But they aren't using the boxes at all! They made a community nest in  the straw and they are all  laying in  there...lol At least I usually know where their eggs are. Though I still scan the rest of the coop.

Do they lay on the floor? Just make sure you don't accidentally step on them while looking for eggs, if they do! I still have my nest boxes closed off. I have four of them. When I finally open them, I'm wondering if they will figure it out or just think "wow, we've got a new bed to sleep in". I have 3 beautiful roosts that have never been used because they sleep on the floor and I still have to go out every night and put each one inside the coop! That's the only stuff that makes me wish I had some seasoned chickens around to show the ones I hatched how to act like chickens! Lol

 

[FridayYet]

Coulda been any early layer, might have been a hiccup egg, an inquisitive peck or an accidental breakage... if eggs break, they will gobble them down fast... might try sticking golf balls in the boxes, it helps sometimes to show 'safe place to lay'... although I had 6 boxes in one coop and 7 hens would line up all the way down the ramp waiting to take their turn... if they get a favorite box/place, that is the spot, lol...
Btw, was gonna mention be careful using hay in the coop... straw is better if possible... hay has moisture still in it and can mold in spots... I ended up with a coop of chooks last year that got Aspergilliosis from hay...

I've read that it is better not to use straw because it is hollow and can harbor mites?? I use shavings because I have some for the brooder box but if I have some hay I use that, too. Of course, nothing really gets moldy here very easily.

Did your chickens survive the infection?

 

[kwhites634]

My original layers (coop 1) sometimes use the box (singular, they'd only use the one) and sometimes find their own places so I am always searching in there. Though lately out of 8 layers they haven't been doing good. I've only been getting 2-3 eggs and one of those dumb silkies I took from my sister is STILL eating her eggs I think as soon as she lays them. I've been adding the oyster shell too. My 2nd coop just started laying. Today I was shocked to find 6 eggs! But they aren't using the boxes at all! They made a community nest in the straw and they are all laying in there...lol At least I usually know where their eggs are. Though I still scan the rest of the coop.

I guess I'm lucky. Only have 6 hens & 2 outside boxes, but rarely do I find an egg outside one of them. For a while, when I first set up the coop & run, I'd find one in the run on occasion, but now it's rare.

BTW, how long does it generally take a hen to resume laying after she quits setting. She was broody for the best part of 2 months, then decided to quit the same day I put a fresh clutch under her, naturally. She's pushing 3 yrs old, so it wouldn't shock me if she's done laying; just curious.

 

[mixedUPturk]

Cooking until firm will kill bacteria.  But there is no reason to think they are any more "dangerous" than eggs that have made it through a commercial egg farm/packaging/shipping/grocery case.

If you are worried, add half a capful of bleach to your float test water, about a gallon or so, and leave the eggs in for 30 seconds or so.  And make the float test water hot faucet water, 110-120F.

They'll be safer than grocery eggs if you toss floaters, leakers, cracks, and stinkers.

Your picture brought back horrid memories of my mom's RIRs who community laid nests of 5 or 6 dozen out in the weeds in summer.  When I'd mow with the Allis Chalmers, I'd sometimes hit one of those abandoned nests.

And im worried about an explsion of ONE egg! Yuck! I appreciate your kind words and sharing, some days im just Totally thrown. PMS was two weeks ago By The Way nobody go there

Today one of the dogs Broke the Main Water line

Everything happens for a reason, and sometimes i cant accept that these things are building who i am.

 

[Ravynscroft]

I've read that it is better not to use straw because it is hollow and can harbor mites??  I use shavings because I have some for the brooder box but if I have some hay I use that, too. Of course, nothing really gets moldy here very easily.

Did your chickens survive the infection?

I mix poultry dust in mine, but also only use shavings now too... would rather deal with possible mites than possible mold/fungus... that crap is permanent... lost some, but the ones who survived I can never sell... permanent respiratory issues... not contagious, but it always reoccurs... every time it rains, one roo rattles with each breath... :/

I guess I'm lucky. Only have 6 hens & 2 outside boxes, but rarely do I find an egg outside one of them. For a while, when I first set up the coop & run, I'd find one in the run on occasion, but now it's rare.

BTW, how long does it generally take a hen to resume laying after she quits setting. She was broody for the best part of 2 months, then decided to quit the same day I put a fresh clutch under her, naturally. She's pushing 3 yrs old, so it wouldn't shock me if she's done laying; just curious.

My Am starts laying again when her chicks hit 3 weeks old, she weans them at 4 weeks... she raises them quick, lol... but can take up to a month to tesume laying, many molt after setting...

 

[kwhites634]

I mix poultry dust in mine, but also only use shavings now too... would rather deal with possible mites than possible mold/fungus... that crap is permanent... lost some, but the ones who survived I can never sell... permanent respiratory issues... not contagious, but it always reoccurs... every time it rains, one roo rattles with each breath...

My Am starts laying again when her chicks hit 3 weeks old, she weans them at 4 weeks... she raises them quick, lol... but can take up to a month to tesume laying, many molt after setting...

Tnx

 

[Ravynscroft]

Tnx

No prob...

 

[AmyLynn2374]

I was going to say this exact same thing today and I forgot!! Lol
Do they lay on the floor? Just make sure you don't accidentally step on them while looking for eggs, if they do! I still have my nest boxes closed off. I have four of them. When I finally open them, I'm wondering if they will figure it out or just think "wow, we've got a new bed to sleep in". I have 3 beautiful roosts that have never been used because they sleep on the floor and I still have to go out every night and put each one inside the coop! That's the only stuff that makes me wish I had some seasoned chickens around to show the ones I hatched how to act like chickens! Lol

Yup, in the straw on the floor. Mind you I use nice soft bedding in the boxes....lol I'm just happy they lay in the coop not in the run...lol

I guess I'm lucky. Only have 6 hens & 2 outside boxes, but rarely do I find an egg outside one of them. For a while, when I first set up the coop & run, I'd find one in the run on occasion, but now it's rare.

BTW, how long does it generally take a hen to resume laying after she quits setting. She was broody for the best part of 2 months, then decided to quit the same day I put a fresh clutch under her, naturally. She's pushing 3 yrs old, so it wouldn't shock me if she's done laying; just curious.

I think I have only ever found 2 eggs in the run. They at least lay in the coop. I have not had a broody yet. (Not complaining either...lol)

 

[Ravynscroft]

Yup, in the straw on the floor. Mind you I use nice soft bedding in the boxes....lol  I'm just happy they lay in the coop not in the run...lol

I think I have only ever found 2 eggs in the run. They at least lay in the coop.  I have not had a broody yet. (Not complaining either...lol)

Don't... ever... lol... said I wanted a couple broody's... been fighting broody's for months now... is very contagious... think I was up to 11 at one point... and they cause all kinds of havoc...
Cream Legbar decided to go broody... she was a screeching banshee and refused to let the other girls into the coop to lay... was an Easter Egg hunt every day... :/