We have been getting an average of between two and four eggs a day from the girls. Yesterday was unusual as none of the girls laid which was the first time that has happened in over a month.
That meant that all of the laying girls wanted to lay today and all at the same time! Smoke had been very vocal for the last couple of days and I knew she was ready to start laying again. It has been a week since she came out of broodiness which is the usual length of time before she starts laying again.
Smoke settled in her favourite nest box by the chicken shed. Flame settled in her favourite nest box next to the store cabinet. Ebony settled in her favourite nest box by the gate which is also Salmon’s favourite nest box.
Salmon stood on the ramp to the nest box that Ebony was in and made a mournful sound. Every time she got the courage to go up the ramp and try to sit in front of Ebony, Ebony would peck her away. Most of the girls will share a nest box but not Ebony!
Salmon tried several times to get in with Ebony but each time received a swift peck. I tried putting Salmon in with either Flame or Smoke but she bounced straight back out again. After a while Salmon settled in a corner of the chicken shed instead.
After hearing a whole load of shouting from the girls I went to check and found that Ebony, Flame and Smoke had all laid. I checked the chicken shed and Salmon was just in the process of laying and was being watched over by Spangle.
I am amazed that all the girls can lay in sync like this. I took a few photos of Salmon and Spangle and a minute later Salmon had laid. Another four egg day. It is good to have Smoke, our best layer, back in lay again.
Spangle is always the easiest girl to photograph because she gives me her full attention.
Another bit of good news is that Salmon has finally stopped wheezing. Over the last week or so I had noticed that she was wheezing much less. Over the last few days I noticed that she had stopped altogether but didn’t want to say anything too soon in case she started again.
I haven’t heard her wheeze at all for the last few days. It has taken since the summer for this stop and I had thought that maybe it was permanent. I am so pleased about this. This bodes well for her future. Well done girls!
Click here to see the history of my flock.
Lovely when they all lay! Fabulous news about Salmon!! xx
It is great having them laying but Salmon not wheezing is just the best. xx
Good news, they are doing well, this year.
I hardly dare to say this but this is the first winter we haven’t had the dreaded myco. They have all looked well and Salmon now no longer wheezing is just the best! It was also another, four egg, day yesterday.
Things are certainly looking good in the hen run, Carol. You’ve got some lovely photos, as always. It is wonderful news that the wheezing, at last, seems to have subsided.
I feel as if Salmon is at last “fixed” as it were. She has just laid an egg two days running which is amazing as she has always been an erratic layer. I looked back at my egg records and she has only ever laid two days running on a few occasions. There is no doubt about this as I happened to catch her just as she laid on both days.