Ok, so this maybe a really dumb question..
I am not new to raising chickens, have had a flock for going on three years, last summer decided to increase my flock by adding a Rooster and loved the idea of getting baby chicks to replenish my flock, everything worked out great, the girls accepted him and I just recently incubated and was able to hatch 20 eggs, did this to get a jump start as winter in setting in and figured I wouldnt have a hen to go broody again til next year anyways and then would allow nature to increase what I have.. the 20 chicks just recently got there own mini coop next to the big coop with access to a run just for them, the older hens can see the babies but cant get to them.
For three years the girls have had one nesting box they always laid eggs in, the coop is very large and besides the roost they have access to 8 nesting boxes but always used just one, its funny as there is sometimes a line of hens waiting to be able to lay their egg in this one box... Well, today I went out and those that decided to lay eggs laid in a completely differant box and one even laid outside under a trailer we have, noticed it walking back to the house. My chickens are shut in the coop/run at night but I let them out every morning to free range the half acre they have access too.
My question, I thought chickens were creatures of habit, why would they switch all of a sudden? Would it have started with the first hen deciding for a change and the others just followed? We went from getting 6-8 eggs a day last week to getting 4 a day now, I know and dont expect that i will get as many eggs as I have hens as they dont lay eggs every single day, but were getting colder and the wonderful Oregon rains have started and wanted to make sure that if this could be a sign of a possible broody in waiting that I am prepared for her.
Or is it wishful thinking on my part?
I am not new to raising chickens, have had a flock for going on three years, last summer decided to increase my flock by adding a Rooster and loved the idea of getting baby chicks to replenish my flock, everything worked out great, the girls accepted him and I just recently incubated and was able to hatch 20 eggs, did this to get a jump start as winter in setting in and figured I wouldnt have a hen to go broody again til next year anyways and then would allow nature to increase what I have.. the 20 chicks just recently got there own mini coop next to the big coop with access to a run just for them, the older hens can see the babies but cant get to them.
For three years the girls have had one nesting box they always laid eggs in, the coop is very large and besides the roost they have access to 8 nesting boxes but always used just one, its funny as there is sometimes a line of hens waiting to be able to lay their egg in this one box... Well, today I went out and those that decided to lay eggs laid in a completely differant box and one even laid outside under a trailer we have, noticed it walking back to the house. My chickens are shut in the coop/run at night but I let them out every morning to free range the half acre they have access too.
My question, I thought chickens were creatures of habit, why would they switch all of a sudden? Would it have started with the first hen deciding for a change and the others just followed? We went from getting 6-8 eggs a day last week to getting 4 a day now, I know and dont expect that i will get as many eggs as I have hens as they dont lay eggs every single day, but were getting colder and the wonderful Oregon rains have started and wanted to make sure that if this could be a sign of a possible broody in waiting that I am prepared for her.
Or is it wishful thinking on my part?
