Guest guest Posted September 6, 2006 Report Share Posted September 6, 2006 This question is for all you chicken owners out there. My two chickens just started laying eggs. They each layed one last week and then they stopped, we thought. Today my husband found a clutch of five eggs under our sage bush. They seem to prefer that to the nesting box my husband took hours to make! So I have two questions... 1. Are eggs still good that have been sitting under a bush for probably two days in 100 degree weather and... 2. How do I get them to use their nesting box so I don't have to go on an egg hunt every day (not that it isn't fun to look for them!). I'll post on a chicken forum as well, but thought y'all might know something as well. Thanks, Danae " Mother's milk and mother's arms have always been available, patiently waiting for the passing of man's foolhardy arrogance, which tried to convince us that his inventions were superior to nature. " Tine Thevenin Baby boys are the only group in society having medically unnecessary surgery without their consent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 6, 2006 Report Share Posted September 6, 2006 Thanks for the info. I forgot to mention that we have a fake egg in there and my husband just put a golf ball in there as well. I thought of not letting them out into the yard for a day and see if they will lay in the nesting box. It looks like they haven't even gone into the box to check it out. I guess as long as I find the eggs, no matter where they lay them, that's what matters. Danae " Mother's milk and mother's arms have always been available, patiently waiting for the passing of man's foolhardy arrogance, which tried to convince us that his inventions were superior to nature. " Tine Thevenin Baby boys are the only group in society having medically unnecessary surgery without their consent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 6, 2006 Report Share Posted September 6, 2006 Sometimes putting a fake " egg " in the nest box will work. I've used plastic easter eggs (didn't fool them) and golf balls. I had a hen actually go broody and set a clutch of golf balls for 4 weeks and finally gave her some feed store chicks to raise. Hen-raised chicks are much more alert and healthy than brooder-started chicks. They've always feathered out just beautifully. As far as telling if they're bad, we usually just crack them individually into a separate bowl and smell them; if they aren't stinky they're edible in our house. If you think about it, they take a week or more to lay a clutch before they'll set and try hatching it, so the eggs must be able to last outdoors for at least a week. > > This question is for all you chicken owners out there. > > My two chickens just started laying eggs. They each layed one last week and > then they stopped, we thought. Today my husband found a clutch of five eggs > under our sage bush. They seem to prefer that to the nesting box my husband took > hours to make! > > So I have two questions... > 1. Are eggs still good that have been sitting under a bush for probably two > days in 100 degree weather and... > > 2. How do I get them to use their nesting box so I don't have to go on an egg > hunt every day (not that it isn't fun to look for them!). > > I'll post on a chicken forum as well, but thought y'all might know something > as well. > > Thanks, > Danae > > " Mother's milk and mother's arms have always been available, patiently > waiting for the passing of man's foolhardy arrogance, which tried to convince us > that his inventions were superior to nature. " > Tine Thevenin > Baby boys are the only group in society having medically unnecessary > surgery without their consent. > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 7, 2006 Report Share Posted September 7, 2006 > > 2. How do I get them to use their nesting box so I don't have to go on an egg > hunt every day (not that it isn't fun to look for them!). > I don't know how to get them to the nesting box, but once you do, my farmer told me that they move the coop every three to four days so that the chickens will always lay eggs in the coop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 7, 2006 Report Share Posted September 7, 2006 I'd think your eggs are fine. However, I have opened some doozies I thought were fine. When in doubt... > > 2. How do I get them to use their nesting box so I don't have to go > on an egg > > hunt every day (not that it isn't fun to look for them!). > > > > I don't know how to get them to the nesting box, but once you do, my > farmer told me that they move the coop every three to four days so that > the chickens will always lay eggs in the coop. My coop is a permanent lean-to structure on a shed in the fenced in area of the yard - about an acre fenced. When my Silkies decide to start laying all over the place (cuz they have the whole yard), I leave them in the pen, which is a chicken-wired area attached to the coop - about 8' x 14'. Then they start laying in their coop nests again. Here in Texas, they tend to lay by mid day, btw. HTH, Deanna Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 8, 2006 Report Share Posted September 8, 2006 So I forced the girls to stay in their coop yesterday (they were not pleased) and the one that is laying did lay in the nesting box. She shoved out of the way the fake egg we put in there and layed in the box. They escaped this morning while I was feeding them so they were out in the yard and Train (named by my 3 year old) layed her egg under the sage bush again. She seems to lay around 11am. So at least I know where to look for the eggs! Now as to where Rosemary will lay hers, that's anyone's guess!! Danae " Mother's milk and mother's arms have always been available, patiently waiting for the passing of man's foolhardy arrogance, which tried to convince us that his inventions were superior to nature. " Tine Thevenin Baby boys are the only group in society having medically unnecessary surgery without their consent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 9, 2006 Report Share Posted September 9, 2006 Your problem is that you have smart hens. My husband has a term, " pleasantly stupid " for animals that are just smart enough to do what we want them to without making us work too hard for it. > > So I forced the girls to stay in their coop yesterday (they were not pleased) > and the one that is laying did lay in the nesting box. She shoved out of the > way the fake egg we put in there and layed in the box. > > They escaped this morning while I was feeding them so they were out in the > yard and Train (named by my 3 year old) layed her egg under the sage bush again. > She seems to lay around 11am. > > So at least I know where to look for the eggs! Now as to where Rosemary will > lay hers, that's anyone's guess!! > > Danae Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.