Welcome... to Chicken Park

[juhesihcaa]

Congratulations on getting eggs now! It can help to leave fake eggs in the nest boxes to entice them to lay there instead of other areas of the coop or run.

I have! I even put one of the nest boxes in the area they were preferring to lay in the coop and they just changed locations in the coop.

I don't want to leave real eggs in and them realize that real eggs have delicious treats inside but would it be stupid to take their shells and fill them with something to look like their eggs? My fake eggs are brown but theirs are blue and green. I'm probably overthinking this lol

 

[TwoCrows]

I have! I even put one of the nest boxes in the area they were preferring to lay in the coop and they just changed locations in the coop.

I don't want to leave real eggs in and them realize that real eggs have delicious treats inside but would it be stupid to take their shells and fill them with something to look like their eggs? My fake eggs are brown but theirs are blue and green. I'm probably overthinking this lol

Sounds like you are doing exactly correct! Yes it's never a good idea to leave real eggs too long in the boxes, one breaks open and instantly you have egg eaters. Been there, done that! Your gals will eventually get the hint to lay in the boxes I'm sure.

 

[Chicken_Obsesser]

Following!

 

[juhesihcaa]

Gandalf decided to sit on some eggs this morning but only one was real. She grabbed the two fakes out of the nesting box (that's right next to her btw) and added them to her little clutch of eggs (pls ignore the poo, it happens, literally. and bedding is getting changed later today)

 

[ChaosMom]

View attachment 4105279
Gandalf decided to sit on some eggs this morning but only one was real. She grabbed the two fakes out of the nesting box (that's right next to her btw) and added them to her little clutch of eggs (pls ignore the poo, it happens, literally. and bedding is getting changed later today)

View attachment 4105280

I’ve read about this and always wondered: how do they “borrow” other eggs? Do they push them along with their beaks, or waddle with them, or ??

 

[juhesihcaa]

I’ve read about this and always wondered: how do they “borrow” other eggs? Do they push them along with their beaks, or waddle with them, or ??

I've seen mine push them with their beaks but I've also seen them sort of gently kick the egg with their feet too. They aren't punting them, just sort of a gentle scoot.

 

[LmCattes]

View attachment 4077691
also, this happened yesterday and I love them for it

It's my favorite when my hens do that. My Biscuie girl can't help herself when I bed down. Hops up every time