Chortle Chook Posted January 13, 2011 Share Posted January 13, 2011 My girls all seem to lay somewhere between about 9.00am and 12.00. Sometimes they are even quite happy to sit next to one another in a row laying (and, I think, having a good gossip). My OH calls it 'being on the potty' as they have a look of 'Rude to interrupt, shut the door please' if we open the door to their laying area when they are in there What I haven't worked out is whether they can 'hold on' or not. I once had one produce an egg while at the vets! On the other hand it is rare for them to lay before I have removed the obstruction which stops them sitting on the nest at night. (I put it in at pm corn time and remove it about 8.00am.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenopolis Posted January 13, 2011 Share Posted January 13, 2011 To be honest, I am not sure. Gloria was up the garden on the way to the fluffed up nest box when she jumped in the air and out flew an egg and landed on the soft bark. She turned round, in amazement, had a look at it and then walked back down the garden! If I am cleaning out the nest box at the weekend and they haven't laid an egg, they pay me a visit, talk very loudly at me, and make me rush to put some fresh hay in - they then almost run into the nest box, and I have to stop all cleaning, close up the cube and make it dark for them to do the necessary. I think my girls go when they feel the need to, and sometimes leave it too late, but I don't know if they can "hold on". I rather suspect that they don't want to hold on, and will make as much noise as they can when they are "doing the necessary". Or that might just be my ginger divas! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JanTheDiver Posted January 13, 2011 Share Posted January 13, 2011 I don't think they can hold on for long, mine do the same as Chickenopolis f I am cleaning out the nest box at the weekend and they haven't laid an egg, they pay me a visit, talk very loudly at me But I have also had a couple lay an egg in the playpen They had previously been in the nest when I have come out with treats, they have flown down the ladder at break neck speed into the playpen so that they don't miss out on the goodies then they just squat, lay the egg, then eat the treats Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trougher Posted January 13, 2011 Share Posted January 13, 2011 I don't know for sure, but I have a feeling that they can hold on. Saturday I gave the inside and outside of the henhouse and run a good clean out, and then left it to air for a few hours while the chooks free ranged in the garden. All in all, they were out for most of the day, and I didn't get any eggs that day - the first day I have ever not had an egg. However, next morning when I went to let them out of the henhouse, there were 3 eggs, laid earlier than they have ever done. I strongly suspect that these were eggs from the day before they had been holding on to. I may be wrong, but the theory certainly fits the scenario..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
