Seagazer Posted July 8, 2008 Share Posted July 8, 2008 Butch is my only layer and she spends a good 2 or 3 hours in the nesting box each day laying her egg. She is quite happy to come down afterwards and doesn't go back to the box so I don't think she is broody. For the last couple of days the other two have been up there with her for a while. Is this normal? Its just after 1 o'clock now and she's been up there since 10. I've just googled it and most of them say it takes about half an hour. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StephanieSB Posted July 8, 2008 Share Posted July 8, 2008 I only have one laying right now (only had them going on 2 wks) -- and she has most days taken 30-40 mins. But a couple of times, I peeked in after an hour and she was napping. Could be happening with yours--? Also, Phuzz, the one laying -- she gets territorial about the nest box, trying to keep the other two, younger pullets away from it. I think one day, she sat in it for several hours just to teach them it was hers! I opened up the port and scooted her out of it. Anyway, all that to say that I think your chicken may be acting well within the range of normal, as they are so individual and have such distinct habits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seagazer Posted July 8, 2008 Author Share Posted July 8, 2008 Well I've solved the riddle of why all 3 of them were in the nesting box - I've had a 2 egg day!!! How exciting. I like to think that Butch and Ginger were just up there keeping Flo company whilst she experienced egg laying for the first time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hen Watch Posted July 8, 2008 Share Posted July 8, 2008 Well I've solved the riddle of why all 3 of them were in the nesting box - I've had a 2 egg day!!! How exciting. I like to think that Butch and Ginger were just up there keeping Flo company whilst she experienced egg laying for the first time Or forming an orderly queue waiting for her to vacate the box..... "A watched pot never boils"...... maybe Flo was under pressure to perform Bless..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seagazer Posted July 9, 2008 Author Share Posted July 9, 2008 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Brown Clan Posted July 10, 2008 Share Posted July 10, 2008 Maybe she was shy and didn't like the audience Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redfrock Posted July 10, 2008 Share Posted July 10, 2008 Carmen always takes several hours without fail and has done since the early days last April. I'm guessing she prefers the relaxed approach unlike Milly's quick squat and drop (sorry that sounds awful ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seagazer Posted July 11, 2008 Author Share Posted July 11, 2008 Well it turns out that Butch has gone broody! She stays in the nesting box and won't leave for anything. Yesterday was not a good day for the girls. Flo's second egg was a softee that she laid on the roosting bars. My fault I fear as I have been overdoing the treats I didn't give them any yesterday so hopefully it will sort itself out. I might crush and bake their shells if not. We took Butch out at about 5 yesterday and dunked her. She had just laid an egg so took that out. I've dunked her this morning. I hope this sorts her out. I just hope Flo manages to lay an egg in the right place today - poor thing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted July 11, 2008 Share Posted July 11, 2008 my maran is a "get in and get out quick" chook - speedy egg laying and no fuss (no bok bokking)...so laid in less 45mins-1 hour. The cochins - the laying is dragged out as much as possible....lots of fussing around, in the nest box sometimes for 2 hours and then we get loud egg announcments afterwards. Ella the hybrid - another long layer, but sometimes her eggs catch her and us by surprise, they can be anywhere in the garden. And even after she's laid an egg she will go back in the nestbox for a sit down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Topdollar Posted July 11, 2008 Share Posted July 11, 2008 Henrietta my meadow sweet ranger went into the roosting box about 45 mins ago for the first time in the daytime and is making a racket so i'm hoping this will be my first egg . This post has helped alot as i would have been tempted to have a look after an hour or so (i'm a bit impatient). I'll leave her to it and hope it's not a false alarm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Topdollar Posted July 11, 2008 Share Posted July 11, 2008 oh and congratulations on your 2 egg day - i hope it's the first of many Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Topdollar Posted July 11, 2008 Share Posted July 11, 2008 yay - it wasn't a false alarm. how sad am I he-he. I'm so egg-cited about an egg. I'm going to text and phone everyone and bore them with Henrietta's eggsploits:) :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted July 11, 2008 Share Posted July 11, 2008 Bertha takes ages to lay, she is in and out and she tends to throw all the wood shavings out it can take upto 3 hours in total. She laid 2 eggs the other day when it was raining all day, I think she just wanted an excuse to stay dry Chickens often lay a few softies in the early days as their insides get the hang of the process, i don't think it was your fault. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steph101 Posted July 11, 2008 Share Posted July 11, 2008 Ours take anything from 30 - 35 minutes. Barbara in particular will pop in and out of the eglu two or three times first trying to make up her mind though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seagazer Posted July 11, 2008 Author Share Posted July 11, 2008 yay - it wasn't a false alarm. how sad am I he-he. I'm so egg-cited about an egg. I'm going to text and phone everyone and bore them with Henrietta's eggsploits:) :D Congratulations Topdollar I've taken photos of the 1st eggs (even when I've cooked them ) It is still so exciting. Well Butch was just keeping Flo's egg warm - pesky thing. It was a nice hard shell egg though. Another dunking in the bucket and lo and behold she's gone back upstairs. I'm off to my caravan tonight so I don't know how my older kids are going to cope with her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
