4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[..lay a little egg for me]

My OH admitted the other day that he always tries to hide the fact that he has taken an egg from the nesting box from the chooks, in case they took exception to him taking their eggs!! I had to admit to him that I do exactly the same!!

 

Does anyone else do this?

 

Also do you feel guilty if you go to look in the nest box and don't take them any treats?

[Egluntyne]

No...I just take a plastic box out and gather the eggs up bold as brass.

[poachedegg]

No, but I always say 'Thank you, Chooks!'

[FruitandNutCake]

I always say "Well done" or "What a good girl" like I'm talking to a toddler I did wonder what goes through their minds when I take their egg - do they think I'm taking a baby away from them? Are they always hoping that one day I might leave them one, or do they have to be broody to think that???

 

Am I just mad??

[Phosphorus]

We had friends around at the weekend when Roast laid her first egg. I hadn't even thought about this before but my friend was so worried that she would realise we had "stolen" her egg and be upset

 

I just went in, took it and told her what a good girl she was. She was oblivious - obviously glad it was out of her bottom at last - it had taken her 5 trips to the nesting box with the last successful trip lasting 50 mins

[Karen & co.]

I always say Thank You too

 

Karen x

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I always say "clever girls" too . And yes, I feel guilty if I go out to get the eggs but don't let them out of the run .

[Ms Tilytinkle]

Hi, well I'm with Eglutine on this .. .absolutely bold as brass, i'm collecting them & saying huge thank you girlies , even go over with eggs in hand & tickle them & say what good girlies they are for laying ahem .. mummy such a lovely egg ahem ahem!!

 

Ms Tilyjustlovesher6chooksalaying

[Cinnamon]

I just take them too, from the big hens.

 

But collecting the bantam eggs has become a bit of a mission.

Indiana,the bantam Cockerel takes exception to anyone coming in or near 'his' territory & has started laying in wait,beak at the ready,for when your hand reaches for the eggs

[Stevie]

Nope-i wave at them and say thank you!

[Guest]

if we don't remove the eggs pretty sharpish, they get kicked all over the place. I think they like playing football with them! I don't think they mind me taking them away but I also say "what good girls" and "thank you" in a silly toddler voice

[Helly Welly]

I always say 'good girls' but i've been known to take eggs from under a sitting chicken before now.

[moomin]

I must admit this had crossed my mine too. I think I am going to feel very mean taking their eggs (not that it's likely to be any time soon )

[redhotchick]

LOL I'm of the bold as brass variety too! I go so far as to show them the eggs and praise them for being "clever little chickens"

I'm always talking to them. Don't know what the neighbours think!

[Ziggy]

I never mind taking the eggs, though I too always thank them and say 'well done girls'... considering that we had problems with them eating their eggs for a while, I don't feel inclined to think I'm stealing their 'babies'... they never seem to mind either, I've never seen any of them act protective when I'd come and collect an egg, even right under their nose.

 

I did once collect three kittens from a mummy cat and that was a different matter... I felt awful guilt pangs for ages, having taken her kittens away, even though that's what happens to most mummy cats, and the kittens are now neutered and perfectly happy living with us as the feline gods of the house... My chooks don't seem to think of their eggs as anything else than a tasty snack that they will savour unless I get there before them...

[Abbey Road Girl]

I think that being genuinely appreciative is sufficient. Mine seem to leave the nest box with a proud proclaimation of achievement anyway.

 

(And I'm sure that they have no worries about having to pay for a wedding or university fees!)

[Olly]

I reckon that as soon as an egg is laid, they forget about it and rush off to look for their favourite thing, FOOD!

 

I'm afraid I don't have any qualms - I march up and open the eggport, and if there aren't four eggs in there I say very sternly 'Who isn't earning their keep? I'll be cutting down the rations if I don't get four tomorrow!'

 

I don't mean it, of course. I'm sure my neighbour thinks I'm bonkers, as I am always talking to the chickens.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I went to get Milly's egg today so Molly wouldn't sit on it (she's broody ) and almost had it laid in my hand . It was still sticky . Needless to say I apologised to Milly for my impropriety .

[..lay a little egg for me]

OK, Ok...so I won't feel guilty any more