Can anyone beat this?

[Peckedhen]

One of my hens just laid an egg right in my hand!!

 

About an hour ago I went to look at my hens and one didn't look right - she was crouched making gasping noises and didn't stand up when I approached, I picked her up thinking she was ill, brought her into the house and she laid an egg right in my hand!! eek

 

So, I'd separated them because I hadn't seen any signs of romance in the loft - let alone eggs and now I feel bad, I've really botched up! They were obviously getting on fine but, I just didn't recognize it! I've put the other hens back now - just in case more eggs are on the way. :B  The strange thing is, had I not gone in,  she was going to lay the egg on a 4" perch even though there was a box with straw in that she could have used!

 

As Ted says....it could only happen to me!

 

[snowy]

peckedhen

congrats i think

put her in the nest box with the straw & the egg in the bowl,

lock her in

[snowy]

monday she will lay another one

[Joe90]

just feed and water, let them out and let them in etc but let the birds do the rest, try and let them get on with things, if you mess with them to much you will stress them, lets face it pigeons hate being picked up, they only like us when its feeding time

 

i hope she takes to the egg, she will if she has here own nest

 

good luck

[snowy]

just put a little mark on the first egg, just incase she doesnt accept but lays another,

then just watch from a distance

[Peckedhen]

Thanks.  The hen is sitting on the egg still so it looks as though she has accepted it. I'll leave well alone now!

 

I have more exciting news - my fantails have just hatched two eggs! I am sooo excited - my first babies! Isn't it amazing......I put a bath out on Friday for them, the cock forgot all about his shift incubating and sat in the bath for ages. He then flew up onto the house roof...the eggs were uncovered for 3/4 hour and its very cold here - I decided that the eggs would have chilled too far but, obviously not!

[bewted]

who is an excited mummy then?   ted

[snowy]

Thanks.  The hen is sitting on the egg still so it looks as though she has accepted it. I'll leave well alone now!

 

I have more exciting news - my fantails have just hatched two eggs! I am sooo excited - my first babies! Isn't it amazing......I put a bath out on Friday for them, the cock forgot all about his shift incubating and sat in the bath for ages. He then flew up onto the house roof...the eggs were uncovered for 3/4 hour and its very cold here - I decided that the eggs would have chilled too far but, obviously not!

 

just try & cut down a little on the baths in the cold,

thats what i was told, hope it helps

p.s.

congratulations mum ;D ;D ;D

[THE FIFER]

IS SHE A YOUNG HEN? KEEP HER IN HER NEST AND FEED IN THE NEST WITH SOME COD LIVER OIL  ON HER FEED, HOW WAS THE EGG SHELL, WAS IT ROUGH OR SMOOTH, BUT LOOKS LIKE SHE WILL BE OK.

[Peckedhen]

Yes, she's young - 05 early bred. The shell was a bit rough - what does this mean?

[Guest]

Just wondered how many days the hen had been seperated from her mate, Peckedhen? Throws up the question of whether the 1st egg is fertile or not.

[Peckedhen]

Separated for 5 days maximum Bruno.   :-/ :-/

[Joe90]

WELL DONE PECKEDHEN

[THE FIFER]

being a young hen and the egg being rough could just have been a bit difficult for her, was the egg moist or was it dry, these rough shelled eggs are sometimes a bit dry, the cod liver oil could help in this case, egg shells should be smooth, but we all get the odd rough one do not think it makes any difference to the youngster just a bit uncomfortable for the hen,

[Peckedhen]

Thanks.  The shell was moist and she laid within five minutes of me lifting her up.  The problem was, I didn't know she was laying it and it was just good luck that I caught it! : :

[Guest]

Separated for 5 days maximum Bruno.   :-/ :-/

 

Reckon there's a good chance the first hasn't been fertilised, Peckedhen, though not 100% certain. The egg-forming process is one of hours rather than days, and the cock usually needs to tread the hen during the early part of the process (certainly before the yolk is shelled).

 

There is still some hope though as there is 'a novel bit'. Don't exactly know when & how it works, but the hen can store live sperm for a period of days and maybe that bit has come into play.

 

Mark the egg as others advise, keep everything crossed and wait & see what happens!!!  

 

 

[Peckedhen]

Thanks Bruno - everything's crossed!

[Peckedhen]

monday she will lay another one

 

72 hours now and still no second egg! Does this mean she wont lay another now?  :-/

 

[Guest]

 

72 hours now and still no second egg! Does this mean she wont lay another now?  :-/

 

 

Sorry, Peckedhen, it looks as if seperation has broken the hen's cycle... she should have laid her second on Monday evening. Would let her sit for 10 days, when she will be fit to go back down again.  'Candle' the egg then to see if its incubating, if not ditch it and she'll lay again, probably within a week of taking her egg away.

[westy]

 

 

Sorry, Peckedhen, it looks as if seperation has broken the hen's cycle... she should have laid her second on Monday evening. Would let her sit for 10 days, when she will be fit to go back down again.  'Candle' the egg then to see if its incubating, if not ditch it and she'll lay again, probably within a week of taking her egg away.

 

one of my tumblers only laid one egg not long ago i ditched the egg and soon she laid again 2 egss this time.

 

 

[Peckedhen]

Thanks guys. One thing after another huh? :-/

[Guest]

Thanks guys. One thing after another huh? :-/

 

Maybe getting all the bumpy bits just now, but its still early in the year and things will smooth out.  

 

How are your other two pairs getting on? If you can feel movement in the hen's vent (the two bones moving apart?) then shouldn't be much longer till they lay too.