spencerwood Posted April 17, 2010 Share Posted April 17, 2010 If anyone can offer some advice, my wife and I would really, really appreciate it... We have two lady Welsummer bantams, just over a year old. One of them has recently started laying and has now produced 10 fine specimens - having had her first ever egg get stuck which need veterinary intervention As a result, we have yet to consume any eggs due to the antibiotics she was prescribed but as from Monday, they’ll be on the menu and we can’t wait!! Her sister on the other hand has yet to lay and we can’t understand why? Could she just be a bit behind and should we be more patient!? As well as this query, we have recently some noise issues first thing. We had initially been closing the Eglu door at night, letting them free at around 7:30am. However, they’ve been making it very clear that they ‘want out’ earlier, so in an experiment we’ve been leaving the door open so that they can come and go as they please. It seems to be working, except on laying day (which is today in fact). Every so often she seems to be announcing that can egg is coming (when I thought they just announced once it had arrived!?) and she’s in and out of the eglu as though she has ants in her pants. Will this persist or will it lessen as she gets used to laying, it’s just we worry about the neighbours as we currently live in a row of terraces!? To top it off, we move house in several weeks (to another terrace - ooos, although with a large garden for the hens!!) but we worry that our new neighbours might not be as accomodating – is there anything I can do to ssssh her? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted April 17, 2010 Share Posted April 17, 2010 The only thing that stops mine squarking (which they sometimes do once an egg's arrived) is to actually go out to them. When I had an eglu and run, I used to keep a container of pinecones on the bedroom windowsill and chuck one at the run - the noise made them shut up (but not always for long ). They may settle down once they get into the swing of things . If not, try not to worry, I don't think the noise is as bad as we imagine it and it won't be as loud for the neighbours. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted April 17, 2010 Share Posted April 17, 2010 Didnt notice any squaking - all very quiet and hey presto an egg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ValerieR Posted April 18, 2010 Share Posted April 18, 2010 "When I had an eglu and run, I used to keep a container of pinecones on the bedroom windowsill and chuck one at the run - the noise made them shut up (but not always for long )." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ValerieR Posted April 18, 2010 Share Posted April 18, 2010 My pekin laid her first egg (for me at least! Just got her last week) this afternoon. She announced it by standing at the eglu door and squawking her head off. My husband called "See to the chickens they're your responsibility OMG the neighbours!" and I ran out expecting to see her in the jaws of a cat. She was just announcing an egg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spencerwood Posted April 22, 2010 Author Share Posted April 22, 2010 OMG - I went out to check on my ladies this morning to find someone has thrown eggs on to the back of our house! [We live in a row of terraces and our back gardens, although fenced, back on to a pathway and road] ...I've checked with my neighbours and they've escaped scot free. I am just imagining a coincidence or do you think someone in the neighbour is a little annoyed ...although not as annoyed as I am now - if someone has a problem, why don't they knock on our door? I have to say though, my ladies are a lot more settled and far less swarky at the moment. My husband and I did a bit of an experiment and it seems to be working! At night, when they've got to bed, we suspend a little bit of veg (like floret of broccoli or half a courgette) on a string, which they find first thing once they've risen and it seems to amuse them for hours. I just hope we don't have any more fall out... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ValerieR Posted April 22, 2010 Share Posted April 22, 2010 Sorry to hear that. If you were targeted as you say that is a very cowardly way to behave! Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
feleena4 Posted April 27, 2010 Share Posted April 27, 2010 Hello there If my girls squabble over whos in first to lay then it can get quite noisy from whoever has to wait their turn! I soon solved this problem by turning on the hose (fine sprinkler only) and giving them a quick shower. I always have the hose in position ready so I can shut them up pretty sharpish. As far as your neighbours go......what a waste of a good egg! What is wrong with some people? The 'dawn chorus' this time of year is pretty loud so are they going to throw eggs at Cock Robin or Mr Blackbird? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
