This morning after the morning corn Butterscotch was trying to find the door to the closed little coops again. I shut the pop hole to the chicken shed thinking that if I could keep her out for another day I could stop her going broody.
I went off to do my lunch deliveries and when I returned there was an egg in the run. It was Butterscotch’s round slightly pinkish egg. I felt so bad! She wasn’t going broody after all, she just wanted to lay her egg.
In my defence I didn’t think hens laid while moulting and have never had one do so before. From now on the little coops and the chicken shed will remain open. I did tell her how sorry I was. If only she could talk and tell me she wanted to lay an egg.
Butterscotch’s egg
Its three weeks since she went broody and a week since she started to moult and she is still dropping feathers. It looks like this girl is going to be a REALLY good layer.
Butterscotch in a dust bath
I felt so bad but who would have thought a girl looking like this would lay an egg. I wonder if it’s a one off or if there will be more.
Well done Butterscotch and I am so sorry. All doors open from now on I promise.
Click here to see the history of my flock.
They do sometimes produce a couple of eggs at the start of the moult – time will tell, but it must have been a lovely surprise to find one when, understandably, you thought production was over for the year. My silkie tends to do a series of ‘mini-moults’, often when coming out of a spell of broodiness, regardless of whether she’s had chicks or not. Half-silkie, this might be a trait Butterscotch is going to have? Like Butterscotch, my Cotton is a superb layer between bouts of broodiness, missing only the occasional day before going trance-like again!
It should have been a lovely surprise but I just felt so bad that I had shut her out. Chickens don’t hold grudges though so I am sure by tomorrow she will have forgotten. After four years chicken keeping something new learned. She definitely seems to be in full moult not a mini moult as I am picking up loads of her feathers. I do believe she is going to be a good layer even with bouts of being broody. Time will tell, always loads to learn and every girl different which is why chickens are so fascinating.
Oh, I did that one time. I feel your pain. I felt awful too. Give her a big hug and a special treat and she’ll forgive you.
Oh, I am so glad I am not the only one. That makes me feel better. Luckily chickens don’t bare grudges. I felt like I wanted to show her all the doors are open but I guess she will find that out today.
Tut tut ! Do you remember when I got my new coup a couple of years ago and thought they had all gone in on the first night so shut the door quickly . Went in doors and came out half an hour later to check and there they all were cowering under the light of the kitchen window .
As you know I’ve had eggs laid while moulting .. Not a lot but a few . They never cease to amaze .
Yes I do remember that. I suppose we all probably do something like this at some stage. I had forgotten that you get the occasional egg while moulting, I’ve never had any of mine lay during the moult before. I will be more prepared now.
I’ve shut mine out of the Eglu before and come home to find an egg in the garden. Don’t worry. It really isn’t just you! Butterscotch will forgive you for a handful of sunflower hearts!
Oh thank you, that does make me feel better. As we speak she is in the nest box so I feel better now that she knows she has the nest boxes back again. I still can’t quite believe that she is laying again because I have just picked up a hand full of her feathers. She is amazing.