The Poultry Keeper The Independent Forum for Poultry Keepers    FAQ   Search     Register   Log in  Daft egg laying and nestbox question!          The Poultry Keeper Forum Index -> Eggs and Growers Author Message Scoop Joined: 25 Feb 2008 Posts: 46 Location: Somerset Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2008 9:24 am    Post subject: Daft egg laying and nestbox question! My Light Sussex pullets have started laying their first (tiny) eggs in the last couple of weeks - everywhere but in the nestboxes! I've had plastic eggs in the boxes since I got the girls nearly seven weeks' ago and even put their own eggs into the boxes, but they still seem hell bent on "dropping" the eggs all over the run. Is this normal??? My ex-batts always lay in their boxes with no trouble at all, despite having never seen a nestbox in their lives until arriving Chez Nous . . . I presume the Light Sussex will sort of "grow out" of the egg dropping habit as the weeks go by, won't they??! Back to top Pekinout Joined: 29 Apr 2008 Posts: 1196 Location: Cornwall Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2008 1:46 pm    Post subject: Some birds are a bit dimmer and slower at catching on where to lay than others. You did all the right things by putting fake and real eggs in the nest boxes. Do they lay in the morning? If so try keeping them in til after you think they've laid, then let them out. Back to top Scoop Joined: 25 Feb 2008 Posts: 46 Location: Somerset Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2008 2:23 pm    Post subject: Unfortunately, I seem to have the most random birds, ever - they lay at all times . . . one was even at 8pm!! I keep telling their critics they're just babies and will get over it, fingers crossed, get your lucky white heather, here's hoping etc etc . . . Back to top mojo Joined: 13 Apr 2005 Posts: 10928 Location: GLENAY north deux sevre FRANCE Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2008 9:46 pm    Post subject: hang a packet of paxo in the run they will learn Back to top Bhindi Joined: 23 Apr 2005 Posts: 1631 Location: Rugby, Warwickshire Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2008 10:00 pm    Post subject: Maybe leave a pile of straw fluffed up by the nest boxes, it might bring on a nesting instinct. Back to top Scoop Joined: 25 Feb 2008 Posts: 46 Location: Somerset Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2008 10:33 pm    Post subject: Thanks for that, I hadn't thought about using straw in the boxes, come to think of it there's straw in the run so that may be confusing them! As for the Paxo advice - they're obviously psychic, one of them laid in a nestbox this evening for the first time!! Back to top chickens rock your sox Joined: 22 Jun 2008 Posts: 131 Location: Kildare-Ireland Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2008 7:52 pm    Post subject: whats the paxo for?? Back to top CP Moderator Joined: 13 Apr 2005 Posts: 16114 Location: Hampshire Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2008 1:46 am    Post subject: Encouragement...! Back to top Scoop Joined: 25 Feb 2008 Posts: 46 Location: Somerset Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2008 11:31 am    Post subject: lol!! I was going to say something about husbands and would a packet of paxo above the bed have a similar effect, but then I thought that was a tad rude and decided against it!! Back to top chickens rock your sox Joined: 22 Jun 2008 Posts: 131 Location: Kildare-Ireland Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2008 9:50 pm    Post subject: haha!!!well you kinda have!!! Back to top Pekinout Joined: 29 Apr 2008 Posts: 1196 Location: Cornwall Posted: Sat Aug 30, 2008 10:33 am    Post subject: Paxo one side of the bed, box of aspirins the other LMAO Back to top mojo Joined: 13 Apr 2005 Posts: 10928 Location: GLENAY north deux sevre FRANCE Posted: Sat Aug 30, 2008 8:51 pm    Post subject: nah a six pack and 2 asprins for males................a bar of choclate and 2 asprins for females Back to top Display posts from previous: All Posts1 Day7 Days2 Weeks1 Month3 Months6 Months1 Year Oldest FirstNewest First         The Poultry Keeper Forum Index -> Eggs and Growers All times are GMT + 1 Hour Page 1 of 1 Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2005 phpBB Group