loumabel Posted May 15, 2015 Share Posted May 15, 2015 My little favorelle bantam Matilda has just started laying this week the tiniest little eggs I have ever seen. She laid the first one in the next box but since then she has laid in the dust bath, the WIR and on the roosting bars of the cube. I have never had a chook do this before, how can I get her to lay in the nest box. I think Meryl her friend is going to lay very soon too and I don't want to play hunt the eggs everyday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted May 15, 2015 Share Posted May 15, 2015 They usually lay in the nesting box instinctively as they prefer a dark private place. If they're laying outside, sometimes they can't get into the box because there's a queue, or it might be that the eggs are popping out a bit sooner than they expect. As your hen has just come into lay, I would guess that it's the latter - she will probably get into a pattern of laying as she matures. I still get the occasional egg on the roosting bars. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted May 15, 2015 Share Posted May 15, 2015 I still get the occasional egg in the middle of the garden... And they are all Gingers. She's is not the patient type and thinks the egg laying business is just not for her. she took the longest break over the winter too. With her I think it's just impatience and just not wanting to stay in the nest box for half an hour. I have found an egg in the middle of the garden in a puddle when it was pouring with rain. Silly chook. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loumabel Posted May 15, 2015 Author Share Posted May 15, 2015 Ah thanks Olly and Cattails, I guess she just needs a little more practice yet. She is the only hen laying so there is no queue for the nest box so maybe they are just popping out when when she is not expecting it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ricmonddan Posted May 15, 2015 Share Posted May 15, 2015 I had a couple of eggs laid outside the coop (eglu go), I decided to add a little more shade to the front of the coop to make it darker inside and make the nest box more inviting and nice and fluffy with paper and wood chips. Not had an egg in the run since, but then it has not been very long and i am new to this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mimi5 Posted May 15, 2015 Share Posted May 15, 2015 Hi loumabel Your babies are laying I tip I was given when my pekins started to lay & did this laying anywhere was to put "dummy" eggs in the nestbox. It did the trick for me, only take them out once they do they in the nest as didn't waiting for them all to come in to lay .......Molly who laid 1st went broody Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loumabel Posted May 15, 2015 Author Share Posted May 15, 2015 Hi Mimi5, yes one of the little ones has just started! She did lay in the nest box today after my post so I am hoping she may be getting the hang of it. Thanks for the tip of dummy eggs though, I will try that if she relapses tomorrow I have been reading your posts about your newbies and keeping my fingers crossed for you that you get some girls X Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
