Pullet Press
Crowing
Hi, all!
This is my first time on BYC. I've wanted to join for a while, but until now, I haven't had the motivation. I need help with my chickens.
Here's the story:
Last night, when I was putting my flock up for bed, I found 4 eggs in the nest. For my flock of 5 layers, it was amazing (they're all 1 1/2 years old, and close to molting, so I have low expectations. Also, I had a surplus of fresh-laid eggs). Unfortunately, 2 of the 4 [eggs] were cracked, and I had to throw them away. The majority of the coop's nesting boxes were totally empty of bedding, which I had just replaced the day before.
I've been integrating some new pullets and cockerels in the coop with my hens, and the cracked eggs and empty nesting boxes had started when I started letting them sleep in the coop.
They have been sleeping in the nesting boxes (scared of sleeping right next to a mean hen on the roost), so that would explain the empty nesting boxes, which I can easily remedy.
The younger chickens are okay with being in the coop, and I want them to be in the coop, too, for breeding purposes (I got 2 roosters on purpose, people). I don't want, however, cracked eggs and bedding-free nesting boxes. The pullets/cockerels are tearing the bedding out of the most-used nesting box, too.
Does anyone know how to stop this? I really don't want to build a new coop for the younger chickens (my inner cheapskate), and I'm planning to integrate another small flock in with the flock, and I don't want any more cracked eggs.
If you need any more info about the cracked eggs, one of them had a crack in the top of it, like it was pecked, but the second one had a slit running down the front. I wondered if the pullets might have cracked the eggs when they were tearing out the nests' bedding.
I know that they aren't eating the eggs, because the membrane of the eggs was mainly intact. If this happens again, I'll post pics to help identify the problem.
This is my first time on BYC. I've wanted to join for a while, but until now, I haven't had the motivation. I need help with my chickens.
Here's the story:
Last night, when I was putting my flock up for bed, I found 4 eggs in the nest. For my flock of 5 layers, it was amazing (they're all 1 1/2 years old, and close to molting, so I have low expectations. Also, I had a surplus of fresh-laid eggs). Unfortunately, 2 of the 4 [eggs] were cracked, and I had to throw them away. The majority of the coop's nesting boxes were totally empty of bedding, which I had just replaced the day before.
I've been integrating some new pullets and cockerels in the coop with my hens, and the cracked eggs and empty nesting boxes had started when I started letting them sleep in the coop.
They have been sleeping in the nesting boxes (scared of sleeping right next to a mean hen on the roost), so that would explain the empty nesting boxes, which I can easily remedy.
The younger chickens are okay with being in the coop, and I want them to be in the coop, too, for breeding purposes (I got 2 roosters on purpose, people). I don't want, however, cracked eggs and bedding-free nesting boxes. The pullets/cockerels are tearing the bedding out of the most-used nesting box, too.
Does anyone know how to stop this? I really don't want to build a new coop for the younger chickens (my inner cheapskate), and I'm planning to integrate another small flock in with the flock, and I don't want any more cracked eggs.
If you need any more info about the cracked eggs, one of them had a crack in the top of it, like it was pecked, but the second one had a slit running down the front. I wondered if the pullets might have cracked the eggs when they were tearing out the nests' bedding.
I know that they aren't eating the eggs, because the membrane of the eggs was mainly intact. If this happens again, I'll post pics to help identify the problem.
Thanks. I am planning on upgrading my coop eventually (it's tiny, and I have 15 birds).
