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

[Mazzarina]

My three differ quite dramatically in their laying habits. Agnes is an early morning, efficient type - she's always first in, and tends to lay in about 20 minutes. Bertha is usually second in line, taking about half an hour or so, and is a little less regular in her habits. But I must admit I'm a little concerned about Carmencita, who can be sitting in the nest box for 1 1/2-2 hours sometimes. She tends to lay later, and sometimes misses out on afternoon free-ranging because she's still trying to lay at 3 pm. Is this abnormally long and a sign of something wrong, or does she just like the peace and quiet, perhaps? She's been like this for a while, so I don't think she can be broody. I wonder if I should give her a magazine to pass the time..

[mags]

my columbine laid the day after I got the chickens , took about a month for all 4 to lay and most days I do get 4 eggs.

 

I was told they where all about 20 weeks old at time

 

 

Mags

[chick wiggle]

I get an egg nearly everyday from Dora who can take an hour, She usually lays an hour or so later everyday until she eventually misses a day and then starts again the next morning. I think every girl likes a vogue or cosmo to read while err.... busy!

[Henhathnofury]

Mine all vary although my Light Sussex is the most regular, quiet and ladylike of the four. However, my Speckled Sussex starts growling, eating and pecking everyone else from about 11am. Then she is in and out until finally laying about 1pm. I have found her asleep on the nest too - lazy lump. I think if nothing looks wrong with your girl's rear end, there is not consistent blood on the eggs or the eggs are not massively big - there should be nothing to worry about. When exactly did she start laying? I think their habits change as they get into the swing of things.

 

Sometimes I wonder what it must be like to lay an egg and no, I don't think I'd like it.....

[Mazzarina]

Thanks for your replies! I'm not sure I'd like to lay an egg either. Although being less than two weeks away from expecting a baby, I'm not sure I wouldn't trade given the chance

 

My long-layer Carmencita does make a great palaver about being in the nest-box, rearranging the bedding, growling if I disturb her and squawking periodically. She does have a bald bottom from pecking/lice problems (which we're working on) and perhaps this makes it uncomfortable for her to lay, but otherwise she seems lively, has a good appetite, lays regularly and doesn't produce any odd eggs. So maybe I'm worrying unnecessarily, and should just leave her a few copies of Cosmo or Practical Poultry and let her get on with it!

[Patricia W]

One of mine makes a performance of it and can take an hour. She also lays later and later during the day till she misses a day.

[katieadams]

Thanks for your replies! I'm not sure I'd like to lay an egg either. Although being less than two weeks away from expecting a baby, I'm not sure I wouldn't trade given the chance

 

Congratulations!! Good time of year to have a baby, then you're not massive and melting in the summer heat!

[Jennyhenny]

Holly my Gingernut Ranger lays almost everyday, still very small but perfectly formed She usually lays around 9am and in about 20 minutes.

 

Popcorn and Margo usually lay every other day between them. I usually get two eggs per day occasionally a full house of three. As yet the girls are still quite young, been laying only about three weeks so hopefully their output should increase When they do miss a day I occasionally get the double yolker Popcorn can take well over an hour and often wonder if I should pass her a magazine or newspaper she occasionally announces the arrival vocally as well Margo is usually about 20 minutes and is very quiet.

 

Jennyhenny

 

P.S. Congratulations on the imminent arrival

[poppy33]

My bovans and gingernut ranger lay very early but my sussex takes forever, she can sit on the nest for an hour or more to do her bit...and not just any old nest, she wont use the eglu but instead has built herself a rather beautiful creation in the hardest part of the garden to reach

[Lydia]

We've recently installed a nest cam in the cube and it is fascinating watching their antics during laying.

 

Trilby spends ages in there building herself a little nest and getting it just so, then sitting in it, then rearranging it again. The others all poke their heads periodically around the door obviously enquiring whether she's finished yet

 

When her egg moment finally arrives she ever so gently rolls in around with her beak and then sits on it for a while with a rather satisfied look on her beak

 

Yesterday she was taking so long with her little routine that Shiraz couldn't wait and barged into her immaculate nest, plopped out her egg and left again. Trilby looked outraged and had to start all over again with the nest arrangements

[Mazzarina]

Thanks for the congratulations! It does feel like a nice time of year to have a baby. I'm looking forward to raising a kiddie who knows about chickens.

I love the idea of a nest cam! If you put yours on the web, Lydia, we'd all be watching it (and never get any work done...).

[Steph101]

Can sometimes take 45 mins to 1 hour.

[Budgies]

Mango was pretty efficient, but Chutney would change her mind umpteen times before popping an egg out!!

 

She'd go in and out, and she'd sit in there for ages. She'd come out, pick up wood chips and put them on her back, go back indoors, sit again, come out again! Drove me to distraction when I was trying to clean them out but didn't want to disturb my wee girl!

 

1 - 2 hours was not unusual!