Hi, I have three chickens; one black Australorp, one specked Sussex and one Golden Comet. The Golden and Australorp started laying in early August and are now laying daily. Their eggs are full sized now. The Sussex started laying about a week after them, but still isn't laying daily and her eggs are small. She hasn't laid an egg in 4 or 5 days now. Is this normal? The others lay early in the morning and when she lays it is usually late in the day. Thanks for your help!
Different hens lay at different times. I believe the chicken's cycle is about 25 hours or 28 hours so it can change. My girls are all on afternoons now. As far as the stopping, it's possible it's the heat or she could be hiding her eggs. I swore my girls weren't hiding eggs and had to be sick only to find the smallest hidey hole ever with 10 eggs. So, egg hunting missions are good. Otherwise I'd just monitor her behavior and give her some time to get going regularly.
we recently bought some chickens and they are just now starting to use a nesting box. Untill lately I have had to do the easter egg hunt to find my eggs.
My two laying chicks (out of 4) are dropping the eggs all over the coop. Just the other day, I found one in the nest box, first time! I tried to place bricks where they are currently laying to try and coax them into the nest box, but they just lay next to the brick. Not sure how to train them to lay in the nest boxes, but I think they will get it sooner or later.
