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SJ1703

Is this normal behaviour? Advice for a newbie - UPDATED

By SJ1703, in Chicken Clinic

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SJ1703 Freshly Laid Egg

SJ1703

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Hi

 

Zoe and Chloe arrived on 23rd September, and we've been waiting for the first egg with much anticipation.

 

Late on Wednesday afternoon (two days ago), Zoe started crouching in the garden and was very subdued. When it got dark I gently moved her into the nesting box. In the morning there was herfirst egg - albeit a softee. She looked a bit surprised by events, but was generally herself on Thursday and pottered around the garden quite happily. Since we let them out this morning (Friday) she's again been very subdued - although she's had a gentle wander around the garden, periodically sitting on the nesting box. It's now 6pm and she's still sitting on the nesting box.

 

Is this normal behaviour at 'first egg' time, or ought I be concerned?

 

From a worried first timer, grateful for any advice.

 

Sarah

 

(green eglu)

GNR Zoe - first egg 19/11/08

PP Chloe - yet to lay

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Ain't Nobody Here Eggsistentialist

Ain't Nobody Here

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Hello Sarah and welcome to the forum :) .

 

They often lay the odd softie when they start out and it can take a few days for the egg laying to get into a normal routine. Softies can make them look a bit miserable too. I wouldn't worry too much unless it continues for a while. If she's sitting in the nestbox at night, it's probably nothing to do with egg laying, it's just that it's comfy :roll: . You can gently move her out of the nestbox or you'll find a pile of poo in there in the morning!

 

Hope that helps :) .

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SJ1703 Freshly Laid Egg

SJ1703

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Thanks for your reply.

 

The sad news is that Zoe didn't make it through the night. I'm no expert but it seems to be that laying that first egg totally exhausted her and she never really recovered from it. Then a second one a couple of days later was just too much. I found her in the nesting box this morning.

 

I don't know if there's anything I could have done, and am obviously very sad to have lost her so soon. But I know thst she was happy and loved while she was with us.

 

Chloe looks a bit lost this morning - wandering around the garden by herself, so we hope to get her a new friend before too long.

 

Sarah

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SJ1703 Freshly Laid Egg

SJ1703

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Hi Guys,

 

Thanks for all you kind words.

 

ANH - PLEASE don't feel bad about your first post. She went downhill very quickly. I think it was just one of those things - sad though it is.

 

Chloe is still looking a bit lost, and seems to have taken up residence on top of the Eglu run to keep a look-out.

 

Thaks again.

 

Sarah x

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Hen Watch Chicken Addict

Hen Watch

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SJ1703 sorry to hear about Zoe. Passing a softie does make them look hunched and unwell and I would have given the same advice as ANH as they usually perk up back to normal once the softie is passed. How awful for you when you've not had them long. They can go downhill very, very quickly with little or no warning. Hope Chloe is OK and that you find a friend for her.

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SJ1703 Freshly Laid Egg

SJ1703

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Hello,

 

Just a quick update for you.

 

Although it somehow seems a bit fast, we've been to Cotswold Chickens this morning to get a new friend for Chloe as we were concerned about her being on her own for too long. Anyway, we came away with not one but two new additions - New Zoe (Bovan Goldline)and Helena Bonham-Chicken (Amber Lee).

 

I just need to stop worrying about a repeat of our previous bad fortune. Fingers crossed everything will be ok this time. I shall be glad once we've got over the first egg hurdle with each of these girls.

 

Thanks again for all your kind words.

 

Sarah

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Janty Golden Egg

Janty

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Sorry to hear about Zoe. You have done the right thing getting two more. Don't worry about it seeming soon...as others have said, chickens need others with them to be happy.

 

I lost one of mine out of the blue last August. She laid every day until the day she died. There was no sign of anything wrong. These things happen.

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SJ1703 Freshly Laid Egg

SJ1703

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Hi everyone,

 

Just had to post an update.

 

New Zoe and Helena Bonham-Chicken seemed to have settled into their new home, and have more or less made friends with Chloe. And most exciting news of all...........

 

..............New Zoe has produced her first egg. Small but beautifully formed and, most importantly, with no ill effects!

 

Here's to many more :D

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