Single hen

[clongmoor]

Hello all, our two chooks are confusing us and maybe you can all help. We have a miss pepperpot (Priscilla) and a ginger nut (Rosie) which we got in July 2008 when they should have been around 16 weeks. After about a month we started getting an egg every day although we only ever saw Priscilla on the nest. About two weeks ago Priscilla took to sitting on the nest for hours at a time. I got worried that she was getting broody so started taking her off the nest and closing the eglu. Then we stopped getting any eggs at all (weather also got much colder). Now today I have found two eggs in the shed and saw Priscilla in there earlier sitting as if on a nest. So....my question is - is it possible to get an egg every day from only one chicken and if so, will Rosie ever start laying? Also, how can I get Priscilla laying back in the eglu again as the eggs roll around on the shelf where she has chosen to start laying? Thanks if you have stuck with this to the end and I am awaiting your eggspert replies!

 

The Longmoor family

[Mumsvoice]

Hi there.

Sounds very familiar !!

Got my 2 in early August and Cordelia (the pepperpot) started laying about 2 weeks later. We got an egg every day and only ever saw her on the nest. She went broody about 2 weeks ago and since then we have been getting an egg every day but I have only ever seen her on the nest twice and the others seem to have been laid by Willow (gingernut).

I have no idea now who has been laying since the start but I know that between then we are getting an egg a day.

So I think that both yours are laying at the minute - maybe just taking it in turns like mine !!

 

As to getting the pepperpot into the eglu again - have you tried putting a fake egg in the nest?

[Seagazer]

I'm not sure if its the same for all omlet chickens but my Pepperpot lays smaller darker brown eggs than my Gingernut. Hers a are a light brown and are often a bit speckeldy. Not sure if this helps decide who is laying?

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Welcome to the forum, Clongmoor . I suppose if you start getting 2 day, then you'll know! I take it the eggs are the same colour & size?

[clongmoor]

Hello and thanks for the replies. Yes the eggs always look the same and having looked about on the forums and FAQs, we are fairly certain they are all coming from Priscilla but I thought it was not possible for a chicken to lay everyday. She is much bigger than the ginger nut and always squats down to be stroked whereas the ginger nut never does. We are just hoping that Rosie also starts laying soon and we will have two lovely eggs a day! I think maybe she was much younger when we got them. I will have a go at putting a dummy egg into the eglu and see what happens. I had a go at making a new nest for her on the shelf she had chosen in the shed but obviously I got it all wrong and found her pulling all the straw apart and moving it all onto the floor, then promptly sitting on it and laying an egg! They are so fussy aren't they!

 

All the best, the Longmoor family

 

Priscilla Rosie and Bob the cat