Leslie
: Hey thanks for that information. I actually blocked off the nestboxes
at night for a week and for a couple of days, before 2 of my smallest
hens actually started laying. After a week we made a low perch from
one end of the coop to the other, sits right between the 2 nestboxes.
To give them the most room possible I put the mason jar feeder and
waterer in the coop in a different spot. The hens started sleeping
on the opposite side of the coop, nearer the door and window. Sometimes
I see one on the short perch, which is just next to the long one but
they still try to lay one at least on top of another. I'm guessing
the bigger birds think they're keeping the smaller ones warm, even
though we have temps in the 80's some days like today, but it could
be in 60ish range tonight.
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I
needed to let you know that we have been getting eggs since
last week. Our first little brown egg was layed for us on
June 11th, the next day, the other smaller bird (both have
nice big red wattles and comb) layed one and the other bird
layed a second. We had some Nature's Promise eggs in the fridge
and cracked our first egg open on Saturday and the second
one and WHAT a difference! I will see if I can attach a picture
or two. They are beautiful, bright orange yolk little eggs.
We mixed them with 4 others, not from our hens so I can't
say for sure about the taste comparison, but maybe tomorrow
I'll have some more. |
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We have
gotten 10 eggs so far to date (June 17th). One day it thunderstormed
the night before so they didn't lay. Two days ago, we got
only 1 egg, but today we got 2 again, and at different times.
They are beautiful brown too just a little small, to be
expected at first. I want to send you some pictures of the
hens that are laying, I will take some new pictures of them
tomorrow to send. They were "show bird" quality
hens and at least the 2 laying are really nice looking hens!
Still waiting on the 2 larger birds to start laying. One
is getting her red wattles and her comb is turning red and
growing so I expect her to be laying maybe next week. The
last one is starting to get some growth in her wattles and
color. Very nice. Most days we have been getting 2, today
and another day last week we only got 1.
If seems
to me that at night birds don't care too much about roosting,
perhaps due to the type of hutch/coop. Hey, as long as 4
good size birds aren't trying to stuff themselves all in
one 12x12 nestbox, I'm happy!
Thanks again for the information. I'll have to write another
article on the day they started laying. THAT was an experience
in drama! Thanks again for your newsletter and your advice
assistance.
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