craftyhunnypie Posted May 16, 2011 Share Posted May 16, 2011 Hmmm. I knew Annie was going to be a character when we bought her. She is an Ancona, beautiful spotty dotty with a large bonnet flopover comb. We often call her Flopsy. She has always been one for flying out of her enclosure & flying in again. We give up with her & let her do her own thing. As long as she is in at night, that's the best we can do. Sh lays amazingly big white eggs - but for a few days we've not had any. This morning she went missing - not under the trailers or out on the grass verge at the front. She wasn't heading for next doors veg patch or in any of her usually haunts. After an hour or so, we heard her very loud egg announcement. She appeared from under Toby tractor looking quite proud. Hubby had a search of the area & behind some chopped down branches ( for logs) he found 9 eggs! The madame! She's not interested in brooding them, just thinks it's nicer to lay in natural vicinities. Honestly - she is a right one! Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted May 16, 2011 Share Posted May 16, 2011 What a cheeky chook! It sounds like you're going to have to leave one egg there to discourage her from finding a new place to lay her eggs. I'm pretty sure 'hunt the egg' is more fun for the chooks than for us! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted May 16, 2011 Author Share Posted May 16, 2011 We have kept the warm one ( fresh) & disposed of the rest ( unsure of how old) but one which is marked & in her laying spot. We wonder what she'll get up to next? Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
percy049 Posted May 16, 2011 Share Posted May 16, 2011 We suspect one of our hens is laying somewhere in the garden, and there must be at least 10 in her nest now. We just cant find where they are! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surfer_chicken Posted May 16, 2011 Share Posted May 16, 2011 For future reference- when we find eggs in mystery places in the garden we use the bowl of water test. Put the egg in a bowl of water, if it sinks it's fine to eat and if it floats it's bad. It's worked so far For your sake I think it would definitely be worth training her to use the nest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
percy049 Posted May 16, 2011 Share Posted May 16, 2011 We tried the water test when someone else started laying away. She stopped laying in the nest box after we brough her home after her holidays. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griffin Posted May 16, 2011 Share Posted May 16, 2011 I knew she'd be a handful My noisy Ancona went to live with my friend on the stud farm. He also gave up on her too and was forced to allow her to do her own thing. She follows him around like a dog but he did draw the line at her getting in the car with him My Cochin shuns the nest boxes and lays eggs in a tree I hope she doesn't decide to go broody up there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted May 16, 2011 Share Posted May 16, 2011 My Cochin shuns the nest boxes and lays eggs in a tree I hope she doesn't decide to go broody up there Good grief How do you collect them?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griffin Posted May 16, 2011 Share Posted May 16, 2011 The branches where she lays are about five and a half foot up and it's all surrounded by ivy. My eldest daughter is very good at reaching them although they do sometimes fall to the ground Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted May 17, 2011 Author Share Posted May 17, 2011 Trust me - after owning 35 chickens at one said time - I think I would know if I could train this Houdini! It is not a problem - she is extremely funny & does follow us round. She's not trouble - she's just a character! Would sooner her do this, than have her nasty & feather plucking etc etc. Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
migsy Posted May 17, 2011 Share Posted May 17, 2011 My Ancona was a Houdini as well, sadly her antics led to her being killed by a fox. She was a lovely character though but she was timid and bottom of the pecking order. Seems that they are a rather flighty breed but beautiful - very ladylike. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted May 17, 2011 Share Posted May 17, 2011 Must be an Ancona thing Pox didn't used to like being picked up and she was the fastest chicken I've ever seen! Like a mini road runner! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
migsy Posted May 17, 2011 Share Posted May 17, 2011 Must be an Ancona thing Pox didn't used to like being picked up and she was the fastest chicken I've ever seen! Like a mini road runner! Yes, mine too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted May 17, 2011 Author Share Posted May 17, 2011 Ours is quite a soppy spotty dotty. I've not had an egg off her in the nest box today - got to check again in a min - for the late layers. If there isn't one in the box, it will be in her usual spot. I've not seen her out today though. No evidence of poos on the drive! Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
