the Newb's Pre-Laying Questions

[Alagirl]

Photos?

POL pullets ALWAYS seem to scratch the nesting material out. I'm sure I'm going to find a bunch of golf balls in my garden when I use the compost in a couple years due to them getting buried after being kicked out.

I need to get into the photo game again. For the moment the visuals are up to the audience.

 

[Alagirl]

egg number 1 arrived today
A lovely off-white (eggshell?) color.

pictures to follow

 

[Alagirl]

egg number 2 made it, judging by the color, from another gal.

 

[Alagirl]

looks like 2 of my gals are sharing the duties....
I got one identical to No 1 today
By this weekend I should have enough for breakfast!

 

[Alagirl]

so I am having a little odd round robin going on: A greenish beige egg, a brown one, another beige one, another brown one.
I have 5 birds, assuming all are girls (the RIR is the only single, the others are 2 and 2)
So am I getting eggs from 2 birds, or have 4 started laying?
I know, you need pictures...

 

[Iluveggers]

so I am having a little odd round robin going on: A greenish beige egg, a brown one, another beige one, another brown one.
I have 5 birds, assuming all are girls (the RIR is the only single, the others are 2 and 2)
So am I getting eggs from 2 birds, or have 4 started laying?
I know, you need pictures...

What breeds again? RIR &…

 

[Alagirl]

What breeds again? RIR &…

Barred Rock, and Ameraucanas
I mean, this is funny, as if they are taking turns.

 

[Alagirl]

finally found a semi suitable box, filled it with shavings (I had bought a bale back in May for the brooder) and added 2 golf balls.
Success
Even if Frankie seems a little miffed at me, walking around with the joints of her wings pointing out and down (you know, the strong man pose thing)
found one egg this morning (I think from yesterday) but it got cracked in the run. Time to open it up and look what's inside!

I see Sunday breakfast!

 

[Alagirl]

I crowed too soon: The industrious girls dragged the box out into the run, turned it over, and dumped the bedding.....
I guess we will need something with more weight.

Is it preferable to have a solid wall between the nests?

 

[Ridgerunner]

Sounds like you used a cardboard box or something fairly light, one jumped/flew up to perch on the side, and it flipped. That kind of stuff happens a lot.

Many people use individual nests with walls, some don't. There is a certain design called a community nest box that is 2' x 4' and supposedly can handle 24 hens, good for laying eggs but not great for a broody to hatch eggs in. No walls inside it.