Washingtonians Come Together! Washington Peeps

[PopoMyers]

Mine do that. Lay in one box then one hen will act like she is broody and sit on all of them. Next day she is on the next batch. We just take them away now. Lol. Been this way all summer. Lots of Broodies and no chicks to show for it. We have thrown out so many eggs. We are over it even if they aren’t. Lol

I finally let my one of two broodies set 6 eggs, taking out the rest laid afterwards. One day I didn't get the new eggs in the morning, and she had switched to sitting on the two sometime that day, and I didn't know how long she left the other clutch. I put her back on the 6, and kept my fingers crossed. 4 of the 6 hatched. Thing is she chased everyone out of the main coop, which has 5 boxes, 2 of which are the favorite.

 

[ValerieJ]

I finally let my one of two broodies set 6 eggs, taking out the rest laid afterwards. One day I didn't get the new eggs in the morning, and she had switched to sitting on the two sometime that day, and I didn't know how long she left the other clutch. I put her back on the 6, and kept my fingers crossed. 4 of the 6 hatched. Thing is she chased everyone out of the main coop, which has 5 boxes, 2 of which are the favorite.

Well good for her going back and finishing the job. Mine have not been doing that at all. Good thing they are so cute.

 

[Kmaria187]

It's nice when you get an over 66% lay day, and even better at 100%. Yup, silly girls and the favorite nesting box. I have a repurposed box from Costco that has pine shavings, and a repurposed cat litter tray with straw. Went to check one morning, and 3 girls were piled in the Costco box, like sardines. Had a 100% day a couple weeks ago, but mostly we have 6-7 out of 9.

Glad its not just me LOL this was our 1st day everyone laid an egg even if one was broken I just scooped it up and will make them scrambled eggs tomorrow and feed it back to them LOL they didn't eat it thank god that could be a hard habit to break. we have 3 chickens that are now over a year old and 4 pullets that are 7 months old. Work in progress learning as they grow

 

[Hinotori]

Ive never actually had problems with egg eaters. I've always wondered what triggers them to become that way. I know enough people who have had the issue.

Mine will clean up an egg if it breaks in the nest box since it does happen sometimes. Maybe a few times a year depending on if they only want to lay in one nest box or are using half of the 7 available.

More likely is me dropping an egg. They fight over it. They won't touch an unbroken egg of someone accidentally lays in the run.

They get at least 20% protein feed so other than liking eggs, they aren't driven to find more protein.

 

[Kmaria187]

Ive never actually had problems with egg eaters. I've always wondered what triggers them to become that way. I know enough people who have had the issue.

Mine will clean up an egg if it breaks in the nest box since it does happen sometimes. Maybe a few times a year depending on if they only want to lay in one nest box or are using half of the 7 available.

More likely is me dropping an egg. They fight over it. They won't touch an unbroken egg of someone accidentally lays in the run.

They get at least 20% protein feed so other than liking eggs, they aren't driven to find more protein.

Good to know since this is just our 2nd year raising chickens

 

[pennyJo1960]

Most birds will go after a broke egg if they see it ..
or me cleaning it out of nest box..
Every now and then that will happen..
I have not let any of my main coop brood..
That is why I have a banty coop oddly enough it is the two pure silkie that are broody girls.

 

[Hinotori]

Only breed on par with silkies for broodiness are cochins.

Well the chicks are about 6 weeks so all the hens are cutting them loose. Molly will take care of them another week or two. Then she'll lay for a couple weeks before going broody again. I can hope she molts before doing that, but it's not a guarantee. She went broody 5 times in her first year laying.

So i think it's the blue eyes that freak the chickens out. They just can't handle it when Hermes looks at them. Reminds me of the flannel pajama pants I had with deer in a woodland. There were some white spots occasionally on a tail or throat with the brown and greens. Those pants made the chickens freak out and run screaming if they saw them.

 

[pennyJo1960]

We all have covid now Thanks James.

 

[ValerieJ]

Sorry to hear that Penny Jo. Take care of yourselves.

 

[PopoMyers]

Well good for her going back and finishing the job. Mine have not been doing that at all. Good thing they are so cute.

She didn't go back on her own. I picked her up and moved her to some loud complaints.