I am pretty sure when birds are happy, they do what birds do. They mate and lay eggs and reproduce. There are no hens sitting on eggs just yet, but there are ducks and geese that have built nests and are laying in the nests. When they feel they have enough eggs, they will stop laying and sit on the eggs to hatch them. The duck eggs are Muscovy and the Muscovy moms are pretty good at hatching with no abandonment. You would not want to come between a mother Muscovy and her nest. She will fiercly fight you off, hissing and fluffling herself up. She has a sharp beak and even sharper claws that can openly wound flesh in a heartbeat. The geese I have are much calmer.
The chickens have tried to create nests in various places, such as the goat barn, but the goats have stepping on them and broken them, so that did not work. The chickens also tried the old barn, but I am hoping it will be taken down this summer and I have been removing the eggs from the barn. I am sure they have some other hiding spots I have not yet discovered. The bantams usually lay in a shrub or bush.
For now, I am picking up 3 dozen chicken eggs daily and about a dozen and a half duck eggs. Folks are buying the duck eggs to hatch and some chicken eggs, but not nearly the amount I have. The dogs got some for supper today and the piggies will get some tomorrow, shells crushed and eggs smashed so they do not get the idea of hunting for their own eggs. Last year the Rouen hens nested in the shelter that is behind the pigs so it would be very easy for the pigs to eat the eggs.
Soon I will put the sign out to sell eggs, but if the folks do not wish to buy them at $5 per dozen, the dogs and other animals will get them . I keep saying I need to cut down on the number of chickens and ducks I have. Maybe now is the time to do it. Everyone is looking for laying hens, but only want to pay $10 for them. If they do not sell for $25 each, then they can stay until fall when they will go in the freezer. Hopefully the mother hens won't lay and hatch babies so late this year and I won't end up with thirty more chickens than I intended.
For now, eggs, eggs and more eggs are happening. Want some?
The chickens have tried to create nests in various places, such as the goat barn, but the goats have stepping on them and broken them, so that did not work. The chickens also tried the old barn, but I am hoping it will be taken down this summer and I have been removing the eggs from the barn. I am sure they have some other hiding spots I have not yet discovered. The bantams usually lay in a shrub or bush.
For now, I am picking up 3 dozen chicken eggs daily and about a dozen and a half duck eggs. Folks are buying the duck eggs to hatch and some chicken eggs, but not nearly the amount I have. The dogs got some for supper today and the piggies will get some tomorrow, shells crushed and eggs smashed so they do not get the idea of hunting for their own eggs. Last year the Rouen hens nested in the shelter that is behind the pigs so it would be very easy for the pigs to eat the eggs.
Soon I will put the sign out to sell eggs, but if the folks do not wish to buy them at $5 per dozen, the dogs and other animals will get them . I keep saying I need to cut down on the number of chickens and ducks I have. Maybe now is the time to do it. Everyone is looking for laying hens, but only want to pay $10 for them. If they do not sell for $25 each, then they can stay until fall when they will go in the freezer. Hopefully the mother hens won't lay and hatch babies so late this year and I won't end up with thirty more chickens than I intended.
For now, eggs, eggs and more eggs are happening. Want some?
Goose, turkey, duck and chicken eggs all from one day!
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