a call for suggestions!
I'm having ongoing efforts to get the chickens to lay (it is not unreasonable that they are not laying. They are only 4 or 5 months old and they aren't laying breeds anyway, and I have no one but myself to blame for picking cute rather than practical chickens. Which is not to say I won't do the same thing next time). 2 of Chris's hens are laying and mine need to step it up.
Each day I am trying a new intervention. This is what I have done so far this week:
Monday I threatened them, Tuesday I gave them extra food, Wednesday I put rags in their nesting boxes (I thought they might like something soft to sit on), Thursday I asked them nicely and petted them. Chickens do not like being petted. Today's tactic was guilt. I pointed out all the nice things I have done for them and that I am not asking for anything unreasonable in exchange. Just a silly egg.
I asked for suggestions on Facebook (come to think of it, I didn't ask but got them anyway) and will try one each day. These are the helpful suggestions I have received so far:
Introduce them to yer mom.
have you tried guilt?
Have you tried putting out a few egg cartons? You know, as a hint?
Make a big show of executing and eating the non-performing hens. It worked in Chicken Run.
Maybe you need to lead by example and lay one yourself out in the yard where you'd like them to lay theirs.
Perhaps they are seeking conformation of your unconditional love. Go all Zen and tell them you love and accept them exactly as they are, no matter if they lay eggs or not. At least, by sitting on a cushion in their pen with a Buddhist robe on, you should be able to get their attention. Or at the very least, entertain your neighbors.
Chickens are extremely passive-aggressive.
Mine like me more when I feed them giant bugs and table scraps, but they also let me pet them. It also could be molting season and they won't lay as much ...if they are getting free range time they are probably laying eggs all over the neighborhood...or maybe that is just mine.
They sometimes like to have their heads scritched, rather than petting. Try bringing a rooster around for a day? That might get them in the mood.
So maybe I was precipitous in re-homing the rooster. BUT, I can always climb over the fence and borrow the neighbor's tiny cock (I'm sure they won't mind at all!). I also thought I might sing to them. What songs do you think would be conducive to egglaying?
Each day I am trying a new intervention. This is what I have done so far this week:
Monday I threatened them, Tuesday I gave them extra food, Wednesday I put rags in their nesting boxes (I thought they might like something soft to sit on), Thursday I asked them nicely and petted them. Chickens do not like being petted. Today's tactic was guilt. I pointed out all the nice things I have done for them and that I am not asking for anything unreasonable in exchange. Just a silly egg.
I asked for suggestions on Facebook (come to think of it, I didn't ask but got them anyway) and will try one each day. These are the helpful suggestions I have received so far:
Introduce them to yer mom.
have you tried guilt?
Have you tried putting out a few egg cartons? You know, as a hint?
Make a big show of executing and eating the non-performing hens. It worked in Chicken Run.
Maybe you need to lead by example and lay one yourself out in the yard where you'd like them to lay theirs.
Perhaps they are seeking conformation of your unconditional love. Go all Zen and tell them you love and accept them exactly as they are, no matter if they lay eggs or not. At least, by sitting on a cushion in their pen with a Buddhist robe on, you should be able to get their attention. Or at the very least, entertain your neighbors.
Chickens are extremely passive-aggressive.
Mine like me more when I feed them giant bugs and table scraps, but they also let me pet them. It also could be molting season and they won't lay as much ...if they are getting free range time they are probably laying eggs all over the neighborhood...or maybe that is just mine.
They sometimes like to have their heads scritched, rather than petting. Try bringing a rooster around for a day? That might get them in the mood.
So maybe I was precipitous in re-homing the rooster. BUT, I can always climb over the fence and borrow the neighbor's tiny cock (I'm sure they won't mind at all!). I also thought I might sing to them. What songs do you think would be conducive to egglaying?