Y'all are brilliant

[jwsmith1959]

As the title says...

Without Y'all, I would have never know to test my girls by trying to pick them up to see if they were egg laying ready.

This morning, two of my hens gave me the "squat and raised wings" sign.

I've had them 6 weeks now and am more convinced they were closer to 14 weeks than the 17 weeks I thought they were.

Now for the big question. I let them free range from morning until late afternoon. Other than a couple of hiccups, this has worked very well for the last few weeks. They know where their nesting boxes are and I keep food and water (water inside and just outside) the coop. They have been exploring a bit further every day, but I check on them often.

Will the layers go back to the coop to lay?...or will they lay wherever they feel like it. They like to go underneath my truck and a trailer (dirt bath favorite place) and a van on the property. I move the van every few days to mow and I try and keep them off the front porch and have had to keep the garage closed as they seem to like it too. They have stayed pretty much within an acre or two, but have access to another 6-7+ acres that they don't seem interested in...YET.

Will the layers always go back to the coop to lay? We had a large flock when I was a kid, but the boxes were in a huge barn and my Mom always had to hunt for eggs in the boxes and in the stored hay. I don't have anything like that.

Any suggestions?

Thanks,

Joel

 

[Silviaschicks]

If you reinforce the idea that they should be laying in their laying boxes, by letting them sit in their or putting fake eggs, they will go back to lay. it might take some time; my OE tried to lay under some trees for a while but now she knows where to lay and all my girls will go inside their boxes to lay

 

[jwsmith1959]

Thanks. I do have fake eggs in a couple of their boxes.

I was just wondering how long before the oldest girls start laying now. They are doing what I thought were nesting behavior at the back door...but apparently only interested in dirt baths.

 

[Silviaschicks]

How old are your girls? And what breeds are they? Sometimes they don't lay when they're "supposed" to; mine didn't lay until 7-8 months

 

[jwsmith1959]

How old are your girls? And what breeds are they? Sometimes they don't lay when they're "supposed" to; mine didn't lay until 7-8 months

They are Production Reds and they were supposed to be 17 weeks when I bought them, but I think they were closer to 14-15. I am guessing they are 20-21 weeks now.

Thanks for your responses.

 

[aart]

Will the layers go back to the coop to lay?

If you're lucky, Yes.

Free range birds sometimes need to be 'trained'(or re-trained) to lay in the coop nests, especially new layers. Leaving them locked in the coop/run for a week or so can help 'home' them to lay in the coop nests. Fake eggs/golf balls in the nests can help 'show' them were to lay. They can be confined to coop and maybe run 24/7 for a few days to a week, provided you have adequate space and ventilation, or confine them at least until mid to late afternoon. You help them create a new habit and they will usually stick with it. ..at least for a good while, then repeat as necessary.

 

[jwsmith1959]

If you're lucky, Yes.

Free range birds sometimes need to be 'trained'(or re-trained) to lay in the coop nests, especially new layers. Leaving them locked in the coop/run for a week or so can help 'home' them to lay in the coop nests. Fake eggs/golf balls in the nests can help 'show' them were to lay. They can be confined to coop and maybe run 24/7 for a few days to a week, provided you have adequate space and ventilation, or confine them at least until mid to late afternoon. You help them create a new habit and they will usually stick with it. ..at least for a good while, then repeat as necessary.

Thanks. We are in the middle of some severe thunderstorms the last couple of days which are supposed to last through tomorrow. I did let them out Monday and yesterday during a lull period, but today is so volatile, I am leaving them in the coop. I also have an Echocardiogram and Stress Test later today, and will not be home for most of the afternoon. The coop is about 8' X 50" and is well ventilated.

Thanks for your response.