One of our POL hens (warren) laid her first egg yesterday (the first to do it) Since shes been very noisy and making attempts to escape the garden.  Theres plenty of food about and I provide corn mix and layers pellets with poultry spice.

Any ideas on why she could be behaving like this?

I wasn't sure if it was because she kept hiding behind the shed yesterday morning and then came out to lay the egg in front of me. I've since closed up the gap behind the shed incase they get wedged! 

Any help would be great.

Liz

Think your chicken is probably a bit shocked & flustered at laying its 1st egg!! Also maybe looking to go & find a secret place to make a nest. She should calm down after the first few eggs. Hope the rest of your pullets start laying soon, & laya few double yolkers!!  

chicken dave:

Think your chicken is probably a bit shocked & flustered at laying its 1st egg!!

This is a good comment. You may also try to make sure she has 'corners' and little private places where she can spend quiet time but close enough to hear the others. Make sure she also has a dust bath available.

I have found with all animals, they like enough variety to keep their senses interested and busy. Don't starve them of stimulation, but, at the same time, be careful not to overload them with uncertainty.

Peter Wells:

I have found with all animals, they like enough variety to keep their senses interested and busy. Don't starve them of stimulation, but, at the same time, be careful not to overload them with uncertainty.

Perhaps this should be added to the RSPCA's list of animal freedoms?

Thanks for everyones help-I've set up a safe few crannies around the garden, though now she prefers to lay in the upturned lid of our wormery!  I've popped a few handfuls of straw in there and since the other warren has started laying-down side only 2 very soft shelled eggs from the black rocks which were destroyed by trampling hens. 

Are soft shells normal for the first few?  i provide there dietry needs correctly

Liz x

Pullets eggs are smaller than layers eggs and should be hard shelled, although we have had layers occasionaly producing soft shelled eggs. There seems to be a conflict of views as to whether traditionally increasing the calcium intake in the form of oyster shell for hens and ducks can affect this, ie is this a dietary requirement, or an inbalance in the laying process for individual hens?  We have usually added a bit more oyster shell when this has happened and the soft shells have ceased after a few days.

paddington bear:

Perhaps this should be added to the RSPCA's list of animal freedoms?

I hope not because I think the RSPCA has, in recent years changed from being a Prevention of Cruelty organisation to being a Promoter of Rights organisation. They do not now get any of my money nor, I hope, my ideas. Their main emphasis is now on raising money for self promotion and political lobbying. It does still however, have lots of low level people who are still committed to prevention of cruelty, but its top brass and bureaucrats are following a different agenda.

Incidentally, can anyone tell me where can I see its accounts? I have tried the Charity Commission website but they appear to have spread their accounts around so many organisations I cannot get a consolidated P&L and Balance Sheet.