emmamakeup Posted July 8, 2009 Share Posted July 8, 2009 My Hermione started laying a few days ago. Anyway this morning went to see them after breakfast only to find that an egg had been layed in the chicken run and was slightly broken. The other two aren't laying yet so it must have been Hermione. Question is - do your chickens normally go to their nesting box to lay or do they lay anywhere? I was highly dissapointed to find the egg had been broken so had to go straight in the bin - what a waste Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted July 8, 2009 Share Posted July 8, 2009 All our first eggs were laid in the run. It's as though they were taken by surprise . Every egg since then has been in the nestbox . You could try putting a golf ball in the nestbox so they get the message! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emmamakeup Posted July 8, 2009 Author Share Posted July 8, 2009 Thanks for that - feel a little reassured now. I thought for some reason it was one of the other chooks that popped it out as Hermione went into the nesting box for quite some time this lunch time but she didn't lay one so I'm assuming it actually was her. Not sure what colour Warrens and Light Sussex chooks lay - any idea? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saronne Posted July 9, 2009 Share Posted July 9, 2009 Warrens lay brown eggs and Sussex lay creamy off-white coloured eggs (? I think). Saronne x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted July 9, 2009 Share Posted July 9, 2009 Our first few eggs were laid all over the place! It almost looked like they had dropped out! They very quickly started using the laying area though and have done ever since. That is unless they lay a softie and they can turn up anywhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted July 11, 2009 Share Posted July 11, 2009 Yup, run, garden, bars but they soon got the hang of it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubereglu Posted July 12, 2009 Share Posted July 12, 2009 I think she might just be all over the place-in terms of laying as she's not quite sure when she's about to lay. Spice did this too, but luckily n9one of her eggs broke. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emmamakeup Posted July 13, 2009 Author Share Posted July 13, 2009 Hi everyone Well all three girls are laying now and I found two eggs this morning in the nesting box - yippeeee!!! I noticed that one of the eggs had a little dint in it which was quite soft - should I put more grit in the run/around the garden for them? So over the moon with them. I've noticed how big they are now too since they've started laying and they seem to dig deeper - probably a coincidence but I no longer need to turn the garden soil over - I just let the girls do their thing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted July 13, 2009 Share Posted July 13, 2009 Why not put the grit and shell in a little pot for them to dip into. I have one of those parrot pots that hook onto the run. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emmamakeup Posted July 13, 2009 Author Share Posted July 13, 2009 Yeah I think I might need to get something like that. Usually I put the grit into the grub but will look out for something like that - would you recommend where to go for one? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted July 13, 2009 Share Posted July 13, 2009 Any pet shop has them. Get the parrot size which holds reasonable amount. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
*mummy_hen* Posted July 13, 2009 Share Posted July 13, 2009 Like others have said you could try using a fake egg, or a golf ball or something in the nestbox to give them a helping hand but they should figure it out eventually!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emmamakeup Posted July 14, 2009 Author Share Posted July 14, 2009 Will get to Pets at Home this week and get one of those parrot thingies. I'm finding that my girls don't seem to want to lay when they are free ranging - far too busy investigating the garden and digging. As soon as they are back in the run it's like they are queuing up for the nest box - how strange Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
