I just got my first egg on the 27th of Dec. Out of six chickens one just started laying on the 27th of dec. She just drops them in the corner near the door of the coop. That seems to be her spot. I do have laying boxes but the sides are not very high I may need to build taller walls right now it is just a 2 by 2 block dividing them. But, she just layed one in front of me it was kinda cool I went to check and therewas no egg. then She went to her corner and just bloop she droped one. The other chickens started to pluck it and I took the egg. Is that ok should I leave one in there so she learns to lay on it? Should I put it in the laying boxes; will she go to the egg if moved?
You may want to put a FAKE egg in the laying boxes, if you cant find a fake eggs try a couple golf balls, chickens tend to think that if there is one in there already it must be safe. (little do they know your gonna take thier egg and leave the golf balls.)
Yes, as Marlinechaser stated, you need to put a fake egg in the nesting boxes. I bought some wooden eggs for mine or golf balls (as stated) serve the same purpose. There is nothing wrong with grabbing up the eggs after they lay them. I always try to get into the coop and collect mine as close to the time that they lay them as possible. That way nothing else gets them and the chickens don't have a chance to possibly break them.
Yes, by all means take the egg. For sure, you don't want to give them a chance to peck the egg, break it, and have a taste. They will most certainly appreciate the fresh egg as much as you do and you'll have an egg eating problem on your hands. Egg eating is almost impossible to stop once it starts. Additionally, one egg eater will teach the others to eat eggs too. So, if egg eating were to get started there is a good chance you will have to cull the offender(s).
