We Got our first egg! Plus a question.

[AllTheChickenThings]

We got our first egg yesterday @ 23 w 6d. Yay!The other 3 are 5 days younger but only one has a big red comb so far. I was thinking maybe they were all going to wait til spring until my daughter came running in with a beautiful perfect brown egg! The red one, chicken nugget, is the one who has finally begun laying.

Today there was a second egg but before we could get it, they ate it. I think it was accidentally stepped on as she’s been laying near the door on the floor of the coop. Then they ate it. I am going to add a second nesting box and some fake eggs to both boxes. Please help me out. Is it better for the box to be raised off the ground or on the floor? I thought it was supposed to be raised so I built the coop with the box about 12-15 inches above the floor. Where should I position the second? It will be right near where she’s already laying but closer to the floor or up a little higher? Thank you!

ETA: So far, She’s laid both in the mid afternoon.

 

[Callender Girl]

Congratulations on your first egg! Isn't it amazing that something so normal and natural can be exciting?

I have both raised nest boxes and nest boxes on the floor. In my experience, chickens will lay their eggs wherever they decide they want to. Some girls like higher boxes, some girls like lower boxes.

And, adding more boxes doesn't mean they will use them. In my coop with five raised nest boxes, only three ever get used. The girls will sit on top of each other to lay their eggs in the "good" boxes.

The nest box everybody liked in another of coops was just a big, plastic kitty litter container on the floor. They all loved it! I added an identical one, and nobody has ever used it. Not once.

Good luck figuring out who to accommodate your girls! And, here's to more eggs!!

 

[UncleDougsChickens]

Also make sure you maintain the nest box(s), my girls don't like the ones that are missing hay. Also speaking of missing hay, why do you think the boxes are missing hay? *stares at the chickens kicking hay out of them*

 

[Obsessed With Silkies]

I have four nesting boxes, 2 on the ground where they can just step in and lay their egg and then two more that are raised. Like @Callender Girl was saying, the hens will lay where they want and only in their favorite boxes even if that means waiting a long time! As far as the chickens eating the egg, it probably was cracked for them to eat it as that can occasionally happen.

 

[preciouschick]

My ISA browns use to all lay in the nesting boxes. they would try to crowd in the same box at the same time. like 3 at a time. They allcseem to like the same places. Their roisting bars have a poop board under them which provides another clean area to lay in, and they lay eggs there too.

 

[Mrs. K]

And then, for no apparent reason, the favored nest is changed. And they start all laying in a different nest, maybe two nests down!