The Poultry Keeper

thewinkingtiger · Joined: 31 Aug 2005 Posts: 936 Location: East Yorkshire, UK

I mentioned on a thread the other day that my original girls still haven't layed even though they were born April time.
WELL...... one of them is in the nesting box!!! HURRAHH!!!

Only thing is - she is a silkie! So am not sure if I am about to get my first egg or has she gone broody before even laying an egg???
Is it possible for them to go broody before they've even started to lay??

I'm really finding it hard to not keep rushing out to peep at her!!!

Debs

debcat · Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2006 11:36 am Post subject:

not heard of one going broody before laying Very Happy

one of mine laid 8 went broody and has never laid since

thewinkingtiger · Joined: 31 Aug 2005 Posts: 936 Location: East Yorkshire, UK

In that case I will clean up a bit and then go and investigate!
My adopted silkie (poodle) hasn't layed since she was broody - but that could be normal for her, I'm still learning their routines and personalities.

thewinkingtiger · Joined: 31 Aug 2005 Posts: 936 Location: East Yorkshire, UK

I think it was a false alarm.
She is out of the nest box and there are no new eggs. I think was just trying the other's eggs for size Sad

Lisa · Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2006 1:48 pm Post subject:

Here's hoping its a test run for tomorrow then Wink

CP · Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2006 6:00 pm Post subject:

summayah · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4289 Location: luton

Mine would test out the nest boxes for a few days before they came into lay properly. Even the broodies would check them out a few times before they actually came back into lay. But the signs look good ~ good luck for some time soon.

thewinkingtiger · Joined: 31 Aug 2005 Posts: 936 Location: East Yorkshire, UK

They all seem suddenly SO mature and I think that it won't be long!
I had a dream that Linden laid her first two eggs last night a small soft one and a normal one! So when my silkie was in the nest box today I thought it was an omen!!! LOL
Still getting 4 eggs a day from my adopted girls even though the three white egg layers have stopped again!
It's going to be total overload come spring when 15 are laying (fingers crossed!!!)

Did I tell you already??? I LOVE MY CHOOKS!!!

summayah · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4289 Location: luton

No, you don't do you???
I loved mine too. I wanted chickens so ended up with 22 ~ it never even entered my head just how many eggs even half of them could produce each day. I live on my own ~ and 12 eggs a day was a bit of an overload for one person!!!

NannyP · Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2006 11:31 am Post subject:

What a shame, I got all excited when I saw your threas title. Hope they start laying soon. I think the most obvious thing is the reddening of the comb and wattles. It's always a sign of readiness for me, (no not ME, but to me)
Very Happy

Lightfoot (Buff Pekin) is now 39 weeks old Shocked

, still not red enough and still no egg. I thought yesterday shje was looking a little redder, so watch this space Very Happy

thewinkingtiger · Joined: 31 Aug 2005 Posts: 936 Location: East Yorkshire, UK

Well the weather here is terrible and I've got a poorly tot at home - so haven't had chance to get out to check for eggs today.
Nanny - any chance of a recent pic of your pekin? My little dove still seems like a baby. And it would be nice to be able to compare her to yours.
My Wyandottes are really red - they have turned into beautiful tidy and compact girls!! Gorgeous even if I say so myself!
Not sure how you can tell when a silkie reddens up = I don't think they've got red bits!!! LOL

Oh Summayah - you do make me laugh!!! What did you do with all the eggs? I'm already giving about 12 per week. One of my boys won't eat eggs in any 'egg' form and I can't bake cakes everyday LOL
Maybe I'll be able to sell a few??? (Of the non fertilised one's of course!!! ) I think my Araucana and pekin eggs will be heading up to the shetland isles!!!! Hee Hee

NannyP · Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2006 6:23 pm Post subject:

I've no recent photos, but will try over the weekend Very Happy

thewinkingtiger · Joined: 31 Aug 2005 Posts: 936 Location: East Yorkshire, UK

Thanks Nanny that would be great, I'll get one of Little Dove.

summayah · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4289 Location: luton

I used to trawl round the close giving eggs to all and sundry. One family in particular liked the bantam eggs as they were just big enough for their little girls. (But the dad wouldn't touch a blue egg!) I used to send them to my little girl's school for her class mates and teacher and assistants. Special school ~ so only a small class but high ratio of adults to children.
Gave them to the special needs nurse who came to visit, the respite centre she went to ~ they also got ice cream and lemon curd.
I thought of accosting people in the street but that would have been taking it a little too far, don't you think.
I actually ate very few eggs myself.
There was the time I went away for the weekend and came home to find 33 eggs I think it was ~ that was a 'panicy' day!!!

thewinkingtiger · Joined: 31 Aug 2005 Posts: 936 Location: East Yorkshire, UK

I think I will end up doing the same - practically begging people to take them!
Luckily the OH works with quite a few people so he should be able to off load them too.
Saying that I think the girls must have heard me as I only got 1 egg yesterday. (so they are either holding them in - or else hiding them from me!!!) hee hee