The Poultry Keeper

JUSOLLY · Joined: 04 Feb 2007 Posts: 48 Location: Kent

I moved my girls into their Summer run at weekend which is about 15 yards from old hen house. I have 6 bantams with on in lay at the moment. I moved them in the morning and by lunch time she was desperate to lay her egg and was pacing up and down with beak open and making a hell of a noise, I left her for some time but relented and let her out of which she raced to the old hen house shot inside and layed her egg almost immediately. The next day she spent all night in new house so i thought she'd realise it was her new home, but again, very stressed next day until I let her out and she ran to old hen house and laid her egg. Yesterday, was at work all day and when I got home at 6pm, i found a very frantic hen charging up and down in a right old state (obviously holding on to her egg) I opened the gate and she tore out, barging me as she raced to her old hen house and out shot her egg !! What should I do, could this damage her to hold on to her egg? What if i dont get home till late? Help please....

kated · Joined: 01 Nov 2006 Posts: 1488 Location: norfolk

She will eventually lay her egg even if you keep her away from the normal nesting place. It's not cruel - she just thinks she must keep the clutch of eggs together, but of course you are removing them each time anyway. Make her lay where you want her to, even if this means keeping her away from the old laying place. Try putting some pot eggs where you want her to lay as this might encourage her to re-think the nesting spot.

Kitsune · Joined: 13 Mar 2008 Posts: 1048 Location: Manchester

You could also try keeping her in the house for a full day, I know it's not nice especially when the weather is sooo good but she will probably be calmer in there than where she can see the old house.