Two days ago Ebony had been in and out of the chicken shed getting ready to lay her egg when suddenly she started shouting really loudly which she hasn’t been doing lately. I checked and she was stood at the pop hole shouting her head off.
I wafted Ebony into the shed not being sure why she wasn’t going in and was surprised to then see Smoke come running out. Ebony obviously didn’t appreciate having Smoke in there for company when she wanted to lay her egg.
A little later Ebony had laid her egg in her favourite corner of the chicken shed and I didn’t think any more of it.
The next day, which was yesterday, I checked the nest boxes as I do every day and was surprised to find a tiny egg in the nest box next to the store cabinet. My initial thought was that it must be Dandelion’s egg as it was the size and shape of her eggs but it had tiny white speckles on it.
Dandelion had stopped laying at the end of October the same as the year before and last year didn’t start again until April. Coupled with the fact that she is moulting it seemed a bit unlikely that she would start laying again. I wasn’t expecting the amigos and the silky girls to lay until spring though and hadn’t seen any of them go to the nest box.
The mystery egg on the left and Ebony’s eggs on the right
Today I went up and again checked the nest boxes and was surprised to find Smoke in the nest box next to the cabinet. I went to get my camera.
As soon as I lifted the nest box lid Smoke ran out and over the top of the nest boxes.
Smoke running from the nest box
Smoke
I returned a bit later and this time she was in the middle nest box but again she ran as I tried to get a photograph of her.
Smoke leaving the nest box at speed
Leaving her warm egg behind
Smoke’s second egg on the far left followed by her first egg and then Ebony’s eggs on the right
So I now have proof that it is Smoke laying and her second egg is bigger than her first which is often the case. The second egg also had little white speckles on it. What a clever girl and she laid in the right place too! This was really unexpected as there has been no squatting from the girls but Smoke did go to the grit and oyster shell a little later.
I hadn’t expected them to start laying at this time of year as last year the little girls had all stopped laying by December. I wonder if any of the other girls will start laying. It will be interesting to see.
Click here to see the history of my flock.
Camilla my Campine who hatched in May came into lay last week. She went to the right place straight away too. Isn’t it funny how they know?!
Oh, well done Camilla. It is funny how they know where to go. It seems when you have them from chicks they just know whereas getting older girls in the summer, Ebony and Flame, was quite different. Because they had been used to the set up at the breeders barn it took quite a while for them to get used to our set up. Girls from chicks always seem to know where to go. Clever girls!
Well done Smoke, how nice for you.
Clever girl. Just as Flame and Cinnamon have stopped laying Smoke has started which is good timing.
Great news and, as you say, laying in the right place. Ginger is laying well, always in a nest box, but her eggs are still very small for her size. I think you’ll have more laying by the turn of the year – several are looking in very good condition.
Smoke has now laid three eggs. I am wondering who will be next. Well done Ginger. I am thinking that it will be difficult to tell who is laying when more get started.