Smart Feeder - Light sensor values

[Isabel]

Only one of my hens is laying - she's an Orpington who started to lay last week and has laid every day (I could literally set my watch by her) since - so 10 consecutive eggs. I collected today's egg at 2pm as usual. Fast forward to a little while ago ... I was out poo picking and Nigella was following me around, quite happily, pecking at my feet and in perfectly good form. I happened to glance over my shoulder and noticed her standing a few yards away, quite hunched up which is unusual. Watched her for around a minute and then walked over to check her out, noticing an egg dropped at her feet. As I reached in for it, she whipped round and pecked at it - I couldn't shoo her away so ran to grab the shovel - which was only feet away. By the time I got back, she had taken off with half the 'shell'. When I scooped the rest up, I noticed it was a softie. She ate what she had and came back to mop up the parts of the white I hadn't been able to shovel up.

 

Someone please shed some light for me. I'm assuming this is 'tomorrow's' egg as I'm in no doubt that she laid earlier and, as she has laid every day, I'm also going to assume it's the first time she's eaten an egg - although her instinct to do it has me amazed. Does this fall within the realms of normal for a hen who has just stared to lay.

 

She's wandering around with the others now, happy as larry!

 

Thanks

 

Isabel

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Yes, that sounds fairly normal for a new layer . The second egg obviously just shot through without getting the shell . They shouldn't be encouraged to eat their eggs though, as it can be a hard habit to break once they get a taste for it .

 

I'm sure she'll settle into normal laying before long .

[Isabel]

Thanks for replying, Aint"Ooops, word censored!"ody. I found another softie on the floor of the henhouse this morning. Think it wasn't long laid as she is always on the perch bar when I let them out and today she wasn't. The membrane (or some of it was a few inches away). Anyway, it's in my 'poo bucket' now ready for burying tonight. Interestingly, she was in the nest box at lunchtime, must have been trying to lay but came out without laying. Have checked her over and she looks okay except for a bit of a poo-ey bum. Should I just leave her to clean that herself with a dustbath?

[Ain't Nobody Here]

You can wash her knickers if you like . Either a bowl of warm soapy water outdoors or in the bath if she's not too flighty . They quite enjoy a blowdry on a low setting too .

[Isabel]

OMG ... If I bring her in for a wash and blow-dry my husband will think I've finally lost it!! I'll see how she looks later on and might give her a gentle scrub outside. She has become very quiet and gentle since starting to lay but I can't quite imagine how to hold her to do that. Thanks!!