Our situation is a little tricky. We have 15 new-ish chickens that are all called Betsey and not all of them are at the laying stage, but about 7 of them are. We also have 3 older chickens named Carol and they lay in various places, but mainly they lay in the coop, or a planter we have on our front porch. I noticed this past week or so that our egg production was pretty low. At first, I wasn't sure if it was just due to the fact that most of them are new layers, but when I couldn't find the Carols' eggs either we knew it was time to hunt. Couldn't find them anywhere. We had a huge pile of branches and tree stumps that were drying out to burn, and I had seen them going in there a lot, but never could pinpoint any sounds coming from there. There was even a little tunnel that they would go in... so I started to wonder... and low, and behold, there was a pile of eggs in the pile! We found 23 eggs in a huge hole in the pile. Needless to say, we finally burned the pile of branches last night and of course made sure all eggs and chickens were out of the pile. 😂
27 in the main pile and 4 right next to it! I was sick last week so things got out of hand. They lay them DEEP in the yellow star thistle. I have to wear thick Carhartt pants and my boots to walk through the brush to get them. We live in the middle ofof fields so lots of places to hide…. I’ve got to figure out something different!
@@AcresOfAdventure it's true, they taste different. We go out of our way to buy them by the dozens from a farm. You have a lovely family and a great 2.5 acre. May God bless you, your family and your farm.🌱🌹🙏🌼🐕
We were wondering why our chickens weren't laying as many as they should... some were molting, but it didn't make sense. My husband happened to see as he was walking through the basement door that our chickens had laid about 18 eggs in a very small pile of leaves. 🤦♀️ anytime production goes down, we go looking 🤣
So close to our number Brittany! I swear I feel the same way, as soon as production seems a little lower we as a family go checking ALL around the yard to see where these ladies are hiding them on us. Thanks for watching Brittany we appreciate it.
I thought my chooks stopped laying due to winter and i checked everywhere before i gave up. Then 39 eggs behind a pot plant. They were laying and covering them with mulch. I seen 1 egg at first and thought "oh wow we got an egg in winter, then i seen the rest. I hope that they are ok to keep longer than two weeks.
20 eggs under our old boat. And under the pine trees which the branches hang down and cover the ground. Do they thinèk it's Easter. I did do the water test. ❤❤Thanks for yourself h a😢❤
Found 28 yesterday one spot where I guess all the girls were going. I have a nice house like yours. We have 21 hens and they just starting but I get like 3-4 a day. Some days only one. I free range but that may have to come to an end if they don’t start laying where they are supposed to.
most eggs was 20. We have found eggs in our inground empty pool, under a pile of wood, up in a hanging basket and next to the compost. Every summer this happens, always someone or several who hides their eggs outside and it feels like such a rip off!
You guys were so close to our number! Yeah this seems to happen about every 3 months for us…gotta keep an eye on these sneaky ladies! Thanks for watching!
We know that one of our Olive Eggers is hiding eggs and we CANNOT find them. We have enlisted neighbors to help and still cannot locate them - it has been almost a month. Any hints on how to find her nest?
I dnno what's different. But i had free range chickens and they would always come to their nesting box to lay eggs. Even there was a single nesting box. Two of them would either share if they would fit or scare one away. They only laid two egg out of the nesting box in their first year
@@AcresOfAdventure Actually my father said that the chickens were used to the nesting boxes, since they started laying when they were in a limited space and continued to lay in the box even when they had large space available. I think you should keep close attention for a while and guide the chickens to the nesting boxes until they get used to it.
Haha Leslie! If you feel like your getting less you probably are! I would for sure go check because these chickens can be sneaky! Thanks for watching Leslie!
Our largest find was from our day free range guineas, everyone in my family but me refuses to eat them..so we dont keep track of their laying. We have 9acres, 6 of which is wooded. Anyway a nest inthe brambles behind our trampoline of 82 guinea eggs from 5 hens! 😱
get your chicks familiar with your coop, and when they are mature, leave them cooped up until 1 pm, until they are done laying. 90% of your eggs will be laid before noon.🤣
I just moved to farm visited by2 completely free range hens and 2 roosters. The first hen laid 11 eggs u der a brush pile. Unfortunately we lost all 5 chicks. Now hen #2 is brooding in a terrible location where a sliding gate vibrates the eggs out of place. Yikes howdo we move her? She’s very aggressive.
Hey man my chickens did the same and layed 15 eggs underneath the cabinet in the carport instead of in tue coop ! Whay should i do with them eggs ,? Eatable ? Or hatcheable?but i only have 2 chickens that layed that many since 2 weeks ago that i haven't found any eggs in the coop! And i also get the same colors eggs
Do you think the hassle of missing eggs is worth the benefits of free ranging the chickens? I'm trying to determine if I should free range or confine my future chickens.
I would say that depends on how large of an area you are free ranging them. If it is just in a fenced in backyard/run area then yes. But if it's in larger areas like pastures or woods than no. Our run is large enough that they will always have grass to free range on and its still a controlled area.
Ive found if i leave them in late enoughinthe morning most the eggs are laid in the coop..and some ladies are even nice enough to come back throughout the day to lay if they havent already in the morning.
