mother hen Posted March 9, 2011 Share Posted March 9, 2011 Hi, I have a chicken who I've isolated from the others as she is unwell and is getting bullied. She is still laying but seems to get distressed and agitated unless I pop her back in the nestbox so she can lay. I've tried creating a nestbox out of the bottom half of a plastic pet carrier but she's not interested. Does anyone know what sort of environment hens prefer for laying and how I can get her to lay in unfamiliar surroundings ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted March 9, 2011 Share Posted March 9, 2011 I'm not sure how you can get her to lay in unfamiliar surroundings, but usually hens like somewhere darkish, private and cosy to lay their eggs. They don't like feeling as though they are being watched, in my experience, as I think their instinct is to protect their egg. That said, one of my girls chose to lay an egg in the dustbath this morning, whereupon it was instantly pounced upon and eaten by the others so maybe my theory is totally incorrect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mother hen Posted March 9, 2011 Author Share Posted March 9, 2011 Thanks for the feedback. That's kind of what I thought. I think I may have to try her with a cardboard box as she isn't able to stand up properly in the pet carrier with the top on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
