maryn7
Songster
I have two girls, both a year old. The RIR never sings an egg song, just goes into her egg box and takes care of business (she's kind of a slow layer, so sometimes she chills out for an hour or two). The problem is her sister, a Barred Rock. While she rarely sings an egg song for herself - over the last month or so, she has taken to singing almost the entire time the RIR is in the egg box.
This can sometimes be solved by going out to talk to her or releasing her from the run to free range (we usually give them about half the day), but sometimes it's just straight screaming for an hour.
The BR in general is a bossy, protective girl. The RIR got attacked by a hawk in January (some lost feathers, followed by a molt), and had one day recently where she was a little egg bound and feeling crummy (we solved it with a calcium pill). On the latter occasion, I'd swear the BR was trying to tell me the RIR was feeling poorly. I came out because she was making such a fuss and saw that the RIR needed some attention. The BR will also stand guard while the RIR naps, etc. She's basically a rooster who lays eggs (except she never shares bugs or treats. Never.).
But her affection for the RIR seems to have translated into her letting EVERYONE KNOW THE RIR IS LAYING AN EGG every day. I've started looking forward to the days the RIR takes her day off so that we don't have to manage the other bird.
It just occurred to me that it could be a nest issue. We have two - the RIR has always used the one on the left. The BR used to use the one on the right, and now likes to use the left one, too. But that started much before this egg song thing. And they aren't on the same cycle, so I don't think it's ever been an issue of her needing to get in there. (And it's not even her box!)
Any ideas? She didn't used to do this. And I feel like I'm reinforcing the behavior by either giving her extra attention, food or letting her free range. But I also have started to grind my teeth when I hear the put-put-put-puts start from the run.
This can sometimes be solved by going out to talk to her or releasing her from the run to free range (we usually give them about half the day), but sometimes it's just straight screaming for an hour.
The BR in general is a bossy, protective girl. The RIR got attacked by a hawk in January (some lost feathers, followed by a molt), and had one day recently where she was a little egg bound and feeling crummy (we solved it with a calcium pill). On the latter occasion, I'd swear the BR was trying to tell me the RIR was feeling poorly. I came out because she was making such a fuss and saw that the RIR needed some attention. The BR will also stand guard while the RIR naps, etc. She's basically a rooster who lays eggs (except she never shares bugs or treats. Never.).
But her affection for the RIR seems to have translated into her letting EVERYONE KNOW THE RIR IS LAYING AN EGG every day. I've started looking forward to the days the RIR takes her day off so that we don't have to manage the other bird.
It just occurred to me that it could be a nest issue. We have two - the RIR has always used the one on the left. The BR used to use the one on the right, and now likes to use the left one, too. But that started much before this egg song thing. And they aren't on the same cycle, so I don't think it's ever been an issue of her needing to get in there. (And it's not even her box!)
Any ideas? She didn't used to do this. And I feel like I'm reinforcing the behavior by either giving her extra attention, food or letting her free range. But I also have started to grind my teeth when I hear the put-put-put-puts start from the run.
