Egg laying

Ebony likes to lay her eggs in the corner of the chicken shed. The back, left, corner is her corner. Vanilla has taken up residence there since she has been broody. This has not pleased Ebony.

Two days ago she decided to settle in the large shelter instead. She spent a while placing pine shavings on her back and then went on to lay her egg there.

Ebony in the shelter placing pine shavings on her back

Back, left, corner again, interesting!

Ebony went on to lay her egg there

Today Ebony settled in the shelter again and went on to lay her egg there for the second time in a row. I don’t mind where she lays as long as she is happy and not shouting like when she first came to us.

Two days later Ebony lays her egg here again

For the last week there haven’t been sloppy poops under Speckles roost spot or in the run.

Speckles has become very vocal over the last few days and yesterday when I went to stroke her she dropped into a squat. I think she is getting ready to lay again.

Speckles comb is looking great

Today Speckles inspected the nest box.

Speckles inspects the nest box

It has been nearly two months since Speckles laid her first egg this year. She then started drinking loads and doing sloppy poops. I looked back at last year because she laid eight eggs then started the drinking and sloppy poops. She then took a break of nearly two months and then laid another four eggs. There seems to be a pattern forming.

While I was at the vets with Dandelion I explained what was going on with Speckles and asked if she had come across this before. She hadn’t but she agreed with my theory that it is probably something hormonal because Speckles is fine over winter when she isn’t laying. As soon as she starts laying she starts drinking lots of water which causes sloppy poops and a break in laying.

After a break from laying she gets back to normal but getting back to normal means she starts laying again. I am not expecting her to lay many eggs if she does start laying again. The vet said she would ask around and call me if she found anyone who could shed any light on this. She hasn’t called me so I assume she hasn’t been able to find any information on this. I have researched this and haven’t been able to find anything so I am not surprised.

I said to the vet that if Speckles started to look poorly then I would bring her in to be put to sleep because she is an elderly girl but that while she looks happy and healthy in every other way I will leave her be and she agreed that that was the right thing to do.

There is never a dull moment with this flock.