- Dec 31, 2008
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My pullets have started laying now. I have four actively laying and they go perfectly into the nest boxes like old pros.
Then there's Vicky. I came in two night ago and she looked ill. She was by herself on the roost with her head sunk into her body. The rest of the pullets were scratching around my feet, looking for the table scraps I always carry. I offered Vicky some pellets and some cabbage and she refused to eat. Concerned, I picked her up and put her on the ground to see if she would "wake up". She drank some water and then stood there while everyone else was busy scrounging for food. Very concerned, I picked her up and was about to flip her over to check out her vent when she dropped an egg. Her first egg, just fell right out and fell the three feet to the ground. Luckily it didn't break.
Five minutes later, she was totally fine, eating, preening acting normal. I chalked it up to her being a new layer.
This morning I open the coop and she stands at the door and drops another egg. Right into some poop. No warning signs, no "nesting" behavior. Just pops out.
Will she ever get with the program and stop littering eggs behind her? Will she learn to use a nest box? Is it common for pullets to take a bit of time to "read the signs" and know when they're going to lay? I would have more faith if she would at least show signs she's about to drop an egg.
This is my first year with chickens, obviously. Thanks in advance!
Then there's Vicky. I came in two night ago and she looked ill. She was by herself on the roost with her head sunk into her body. The rest of the pullets were scratching around my feet, looking for the table scraps I always carry. I offered Vicky some pellets and some cabbage and she refused to eat. Concerned, I picked her up and put her on the ground to see if she would "wake up". She drank some water and then stood there while everyone else was busy scrounging for food. Very concerned, I picked her up and was about to flip her over to check out her vent when she dropped an egg. Her first egg, just fell right out and fell the three feet to the ground. Luckily it didn't break.
Five minutes later, she was totally fine, eating, preening acting normal. I chalked it up to her being a new layer.
This morning I open the coop and she stands at the door and drops another egg. Right into some poop. No warning signs, no "nesting" behavior. Just pops out.
Will she ever get with the program and stop littering eggs behind her? Will she learn to use a nest box? Is it common for pullets to take a bit of time to "read the signs" and know when they're going to lay? I would have more faith if she would at least show signs she's about to drop an egg.
This is my first year with chickens, obviously. Thanks in advance!