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Post by orpingtongal on Sept 6, 2005 20:37:34 GMT -5
WE ARE NEWBIES AND OUR HENS JUST STARTED LAYING EGGS. (ONLY TWO A DAY SO FAR) WE BUILT IN 7 CUBICLES ALONG ONE WALL IN THE CHICKEN COOP FOR THE HENS, WE HAVE 7 HENS AND 2 ROOSTERS. BUT 6 OF THE HENS AND 1 ROOSTER HUDDLE TOGETHER ON A BALE OF STRAW AT NIGHT AND THE OTHER ROOSTER SLEEPS ACROSS THE ROOM IN THE CUBICLES WITH HIS ONE MISTRESS PERCHED ON THE DIVIDER NEXT TO HIM? THE TWO HENS THAT STARTED LAYING USE THE SAME SPOT IN THE CORNER UNDER THE CUBICLES. SHOULD WE PULL THE CUBES OUT SINCE THEIR NOT INTERESTED IN SLEEPING/LAYING EGGS THERE? MOST OF THE CHICKENS LIKE TO SNUGGLE UP NEXT TO EACH OTHER, WILL THAT ALSO KEEP THEM WARM IN OUR MINNESOTA WINTERS?
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Dutch
New Member
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Post by Dutch on Sept 7, 2005 16:56:41 GMT -5
Hens like to lay eggs in a dark protected spot, and might be why they are not laying in the cubicles. They also like to roost off the ground at night. If you don't have a roost in your coop, use a 2X4 with rounded edges and laid flat to give them a comfortable place to sleep. For orpingtons, I would only put it a few feet off the ground.
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Post by orpingtongal on Sept 8, 2005 8:53:14 GMT -5
Thank You Dutch, you are so very helpful!
Now can I ask you another question?
Yesterday we had a grand total of 3 pullet eggs, WOW!
I can hardly wait to check each day. My question is:
Will each hen lay only one egg per day? How long does a single egg take to form. I mean, from the time the rooster "HAS HIS WAY WITH THE HEN" ;D ;D until she lays the egg?
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Dutch
New Member
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Post by Dutch on Sept 8, 2005 15:45:08 GMT -5
If they are all good egg producers, they will only lay one egg a day. For your orpingtons, I would guess an average of 6 eggs every day from your seven hens. A rooster only needs to mate a hen every 7-10 days because she will hold the sperm, fertilizing the eggs each time she ovulates. The egg starts its development in the ovary, and will take over a week for ovulation to occur. Then she will usually lay an egg 24 hours after ovulation. Ovulation will occur regardless of whether or not you have a rooster. Good Luck!!!!  |
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Post by orpingtongal on Sept 9, 2005 19:44:09 GMT -5
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!
YOU SUGGESTED A GOOD BOOK ON RAISING CHICKENS, CAN YOU RECOMMEND ONE.
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Dutch
New Member
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Post by Dutch on Sept 10, 2005 11:03:49 GMT -5
It was Mark who suggested finding a good book, and he couldn't be more right. See if you can find "Storey's Guide to Raising Chickens", 352 pages of the basic essentials of raising a poultry flock.  |
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Post by aldridgereds on Dec 7, 2006 19:01:52 GMT -5
a good producer at least 1 egg a day a great producer has some days she lays 2 in one dayalso the question with the rooster having his way with the hens.a hen can store sperm for 2 weeks and she distributes them to each egg she lays when the egg is produced.
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Post by featherz on Jan 16, 2007 18:42:32 GMT -5
;D orpingtongal, im new here and from brainerd. mine were born this spring and have just started a month ago, laying eggs. well one day many months ago.......i came home to quite a suprise..... my husband made a whole wall full of boxes (20)  he did'nt even make them to the plans i had, and wanted to use. they NEVER used those boxes....untill very recently. i have 5 Red shoulder yokohamas and 2 polish. i get an average of 3-4 eggs presently. well maby they will use them soon?? |
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Post by azogefi on Sept 2, 2019 16:41:16 GMT -5
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Post by akokorewifo on Sept 2, 2019 17:53:45 GMT -5
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he did'nt even make them to the plans i had, and wanted to use.