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

[Margaret]

Hi, not sure which one of the Girlies laid for the first time last night!! Yippee.... but.....

It was a softie, and it was late evening 8.05, by the time I rushed out to the run Lavender was eating it!!! So please some answers to questions .

Thought hens laid in the morning,

Is a softie ok for first egg, and why did she eat it.

I leave the house for work at 6.30am and not home until 6.15pm, if one of the girlies lays her egg in the eglu, what happens when next one want to lay and there is an egg already there?

Sorry for silly questions, but only week 3 of being a Hen Mummy.

Many Thanks.

Margaret.

[Guest]

Not an expert so ? why eating

But I am new, mine lay their eggs (take it in turns queue up) and the eggs all sit in one spot in a little group together. I am amazed they dont break each others eggs..even though I have a cube with 5 chickens and a large nesting area they still use the same little nest area!

 

Re the softies I had one softie layer on/off for about 2/3 weeks and now their egg laying has become all normal/settled. I think?? the softies can be because their egg laying is getting established. You may get some advice re grit etc but I was advised to cut out treats and stick to the layers pellets(+ grit available) and it has all become normal eggs now.

 

I do work and usually the eggs are fine until I get back home.

 

Am sure others will let you know regarding eating eggs

 

good luck be patient it will sort itself out

indie

[Margaret]

Thanks Indie,

Have grit available in run so hopefully will settle down,

other thing not sure how the egg laying dance goes !!!!!

M x

[katieadams]

Our Beaky laid a softee first time, then nothing for the next day, then regular 'proper' eggs ever since!!

 

You'll find out about how the egg dance goes when you get your first good one and find yourself dancing to the kitchen with it!!

[redranger]

Hi there, I dont think chickens lay at the same time every day, and not always in the mornng - with mine, it varies from day to day, morning, afternoon, early evening - whenever the eggs are ready to come out, really! We had a few softies for a few days when one first started laying, after that the eggs were always perfectly formed, so dont worry about that Mine also lay in their eggs all in the same place in the nest box too - usually one at a time, sometimes two go in together. I think the presence of eggs there encourages the others to lay. I do actually leave a dummy egg in the nest box, to ensure they lay in there and not outside, where it might get trampled on or eaten by the others.

 

Mike

[Guest]

One of my relatives asked me why the shop ones were all so perfect then!!?? I have no idea what they do to the birds to get them so large and perfect...its worrying frankenscience or something ????

 

indie

[Budgies]

One of my relatives asked me why the shop ones were all so perfect then!!?? I have no idea what they do to the birds to get them so large and perfect...its worrying frankenscience or something ????

 

indie

 

Because all the ones that aren't "perfect" are ditched or used in products where they won't be seen I guess. It's like the veg in the supermarket all being the same uniform size and colour - makes me feel like I'm going mad!!