The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: waddy on July 15, 2015, 01:15:21 pm

Title: Finally found out why there were hardly any eggs!
Post by: waddy on July 15, 2015, 01:15:21 pm
A stack of a dozen under the coop! I have looked there before as I have seen them going in and out and found none but the girls must have been scoping it out. I noticed a chook under there looking like she had started sitting and had another look. I shall try floating them to find and use the freshest and break into a separate bowl to check them before cooking.


 ;D


Helen
Title: Re: Finally found out why there were hardly any eggs!
Post by: Backinwellies on July 15, 2015, 01:37:20 pm
Keep having that problem .... find one lot   then they up sticks to another 'safe ' location which takes me another 2 weeks to locate!!   (Ducks even worse as they forage (and nest) over 2 acres!
Title: Re: Finally found out why there were hardly any eggs!
Post by: Fleecewife on July 15, 2015, 04:26:40 pm
Hmm - I so wish they wouldn't do that.  Found one outdoor clutch (the dogs found it, and ate half the eggs), but no hen sitting, one hen missing.  Smug fox  :rant:  Our oldest hen is broody at the moment (sitting on nothing) inside the henhouse.  Safe - maybe that's why she's survived so long  :chook:
Now I've spotted a tunnel at the base of a stack of old hay, hen sized, well worn.  No hens missing, but I think they may be laying in there for the day someone decides to sit.  It's one of those places which requires contortions, standing on your head, and a torch to see inside - aha, a job for Mr F.
Title: Re: Finally found out why there were hardly any eggs!
Post by: Cosmore on July 16, 2015, 10:53:31 am
[quote author=Fleecewife - aha, a job for Mr F.

I hope you meant your OH....not the fox! ;) .
I've had the same problem with my geese - most lay in their houses, but a few get very creative with new sites to lay eggs in, varying from place to place as the fancy takes them ::) . I think I've finally sussed out all their 'spots', but you never know......... :) .
Title: Re: Finally found out why there were hardly any eggs!
Post by: Kimbo on July 16, 2015, 11:54:29 am
My 10 laying hens have 5 nest boxes but they ALL want to lay ( very often at the same time) in only one of them  ::) And that is  just an old Tupperware box on the floor of the hen-house!
Poor husband is quite offended that they ignore his beautiful carpentry.
Who knows the secret of the chicken mind!