Sugar has now gone broody as well as Smoke. Sugar has laid nine eggs in twelve days. The gap between going broody and the amount of eggs laid seems to be diminishing for both of them.
Having two broody girls in the two favourite nest boxes makes it awkward when the other girls want to lay.
Today when I could see that both Ebony and Salmon wanted to lay I decided to put Sugar in with Smoke to free up another nest box. On the same day that Smoke went broody Salmon started laying again.
Ebony immediately took up her position in the favourite nest box and Salmon settled in the third nest box by the gate.
The next time I checked on the girls Flame had settled in the nest box with Ebony. It seems that sharing is a must at the moment.
A little later Salmon laid her egg in the third nest box. The next time I checked both Ebony and Flame had laid their eggs side by side.
I was pleased that three girls got their eggs laid without any shouting. It is so much easier when the girls will share nest boxes.
Luckily we had built up a collection of eggs while all the girls were laying for a short while so we will be okay with two girls out of lay for a while.
Click here to see the history of my flock.
They look quite happy sharing the nest boxes.
They seem to accept it and are quiet about it so that’s good for me.
Lots of broody shenanigans again! xx
Indeed! I think Ebony may be going broody too which I could do without. xx
The impact on egg production can be huge with only 2 broody; hope it doesn’t last too long.
We are down to only one egg a day at the moment. See my later post, they are now all three through it but of course it will be a while before they start laying again.