h&schickens Posted May 1, 2008 Share Posted May 1, 2008 Let hens out about 7.30 into their run! No eggs in nesting boxes as per usual. Returned half hour ago and thought i was seeing things at first (egg in middle of the run). It was really small but perfectly shaped but had a couple of holes in it. Obviously had been pecked at. Dont have any idea who layed it, but I was hoping my 1st egg and all others would be layed in the nesting boxes in the shed. Will this be a one off cause its the first egg? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Imo Posted May 1, 2008 Share Posted May 1, 2008 Sometimes they do lay eggs in funny places - it may be because it's a first egg, they aren't quite used to whole process yet. Are they familiar to the nesting boxes you have in your shed? I know sometimes people use rubber eggs in the nest to try and encourage their birds to lay there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surferdog Posted May 1, 2008 Share Posted May 1, 2008 My Sylvie laid her first egg in the run during the excitement of the afternoon treats coming in. I had to dive through the scrum to save it from their big feet! After that they all lay in the nest box (unless it's a softie in which case it's wherever they happen to be at the time ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fur 'n' Feathers Posted May 1, 2008 Share Posted May 1, 2008 Don't worry. Two of our 3 hens laid their first egg in the run. Probably didn't know what was about to happen We put a wooden egg we got from a secondhand shop in the nest overnight after the first egg and they are all using the nest now. Once one has got the idea it seems the others follow. Kilo laid 2 thin shelled eggs on her second day in the run because the nest was in use and she obviously couldn't hold on to them. However, she's on the nest today as we post this reply It does seem they sort themselves out. Good idea to watch out for them pecking softies though & intervene early. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted May 1, 2008 Share Posted May 1, 2008 Our first egg was laid in the run too . I put a couple of golfballs in the nestbox. Whether that did it or not, I don't know, but every single subsequent egg has been in the nest box (apart from a couple that obviously got turfed out by the next hen that went in ). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajm200 Posted May 1, 2008 Share Posted May 1, 2008 One of ours made a nest under a shrub when she first started laying but after being confined to the run for 24 hours she found the nesting box and has used it ever since. I left the eggs that the others had laid in there while they were all locked in to help her take the hint. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
h&schickens Posted May 1, 2008 Author Share Posted May 1, 2008 Thanks for all the replies!! We have had golf balls in the nesting boxes since day one (3 weeks ago). Hopefully its a one off that the first was laid in the run. Should I expect another egg in the morning??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
druids57 Posted May 1, 2008 Share Posted May 1, 2008 Ha an egg doesnt matter where it was laid an egg is an egg Sarah Congratulations Druidx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
h&schickens Posted May 1, 2008 Author Share Posted May 1, 2008 cheers druid, think I was getting on peoples nerves at work talking about it!! Going to Oulton Park for the superbikes for the weekend and wanted to be the first to see the 1st egg!! Thank god it came before my dad looks after them!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WitchHazel Posted May 2, 2008 Share Posted May 2, 2008 Scarlett laid her first two eggs in the Run, despite us having dummy eggs in the nestbox, and Delilah laying in the nestbox every day. From day 3 she laid in the nestbox, although we did also have a cople of softrees in the poop tray over a couple of days, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...