Daniellebell1
Songster
- May 14, 2020
- 69
- 212
- 136
Hallo chickenfriends, I'm seeking some advice!
I have a wee flock of 4 young hens that free-range in the backyard during the daytime. Around dusk, I put them in the coop and they stay there til the next morning. They have a sweet nesting box in the coop, but they really only go into the coop to eat or sleep for the night. Even when it's pouring rain, they prefer to huddle underneath the eaves of the house or roost in the fig tree. So it did not come as a surprise to me that they also lay their eggs outside of the coop too--specifically in a nook between some new and old fencing. Usually this does not present a problem, but lately one of the hens, Zippy (this lovely community helped me identify that she is a Buff Rock), has started staying in the nesting spot for hours at a time. And this evening at dusk, she was still there. So I put the other chickens up, and decided to come back for her an hour later. Still there. My spouse went to check on her an hour later. Still there. So now it's midnight, and I'm in my jammies and definitely not going back out there for tonight, but I can't help worrying about her.
So I'd like your advice, oh wise chicken pals. If this becomes a habit, should I try to move her into the coop so that she doesn't become a predator's dinner? Also, is this the beginning stages of broodiness, or is it just that some hens like to take their sweet time?
Thanks in advance for your feedback!
I have a wee flock of 4 young hens that free-range in the backyard during the daytime. Around dusk, I put them in the coop and they stay there til the next morning. They have a sweet nesting box in the coop, but they really only go into the coop to eat or sleep for the night. Even when it's pouring rain, they prefer to huddle underneath the eaves of the house or roost in the fig tree. So it did not come as a surprise to me that they also lay their eggs outside of the coop too--specifically in a nook between some new and old fencing. Usually this does not present a problem, but lately one of the hens, Zippy (this lovely community helped me identify that she is a Buff Rock), has started staying in the nesting spot for hours at a time. And this evening at dusk, she was still there. So I put the other chickens up, and decided to come back for her an hour later. Still there. My spouse went to check on her an hour later. Still there. So now it's midnight, and I'm in my jammies and definitely not going back out there for tonight, but I can't help worrying about her.
So I'd like your advice, oh wise chicken pals. If this becomes a habit, should I try to move her into the coop so that she doesn't become a predator's dinner? Also, is this the beginning stages of broodiness, or is it just that some hens like to take their sweet time?
Thanks in advance for your feedback!