Dixie Chicks

[Outpost JWB]

Please check out the Virginia thread.
Someone told me of a problem they were having with chicken eating eggs. They said they had a problem last year and got rid of most or a lot or all not sure, because their entire flock were eating their own eggs.

They have started over with new chickens from many different places and they have the problem starting again and he told me of all types of feed he is giving his chickens. Sounds like they are all eating well, by what he says.
I tried To help with diggestions as to what causes this. Just think of what was happening.
My hubby even suggested it may be a mouse that is causing problems.
If anyone can think of some solution to add or possible weakness please feel free to add. I fact I welcome anyones and everyones input as we all Learn from others.
I personally have never experinced this type of problem. Never. If I see a cracked egg laying under a perch I remove it. I make sure there are many nest boxes. What a terrible feeling for a girl to want to lay her egg and the box is full of another chicken sitting.
Suggestions please?

Egg stealer or eaters

Ground squirrels
Opossoms
raccoons
Ravens
Crows
Rats
dogs

Causes of egg eating
Not enough protien
Not enough calcium
not dark enough nest box

For what its worth I have seen one hen lay an egg on top of another.

dont have any other ideas

deb

Also from personal experience..........black rat snakes. We were missing eggs 5-6 a day. I thought the girls were slackers. Turns out there was at least two huge black snakes stealing the eggs. Snakes don't eat every day, so there must've been more, I just didn't get them. Rats have also been an issue here.

And to add to the causes.....Also not enough nest boxes. I have a hen who will hold her egg until I let her out to free range & then run like a banshee to "her nest". It's not a nest, but she has found a spot that SHE likes. If I don't let them out to free range, I get no green egg from her.

@vehve , I like the color. I would opt to change the bedding to pick up the tan color of the chair. Pillows are also a great option as @perchie.girl mentioned.

Thanks @hennible and @BriardChickens for your advice. I think I'll dig a big hole and go ahead and cull her. DH thinks maybe she is just old. I disagree. I have some old freeloaders in the coop back there & they act like normal chickens. Picking bugs, eating and drinking well, running around, etc. This hen is just not acting normal at all.

Gotta get to work. You all have a great day.

Edited due to double quotes......?

 

[vehve]

Nah, chair gets to move away. The sheets keep changing, so it might not always be something black there.

Some of the tomatoes moved outside yesterday too (they were starting to touch the ceiling). I now made a couple of self watering pots, we'll see how they work. I didn't put an overflow valve in, I thought I'd try without at first.

 

[BriardChickens]

Well, 3 days left on my duck hatch!!!!

Tonight they'll go into lock down. Planning on getting the humidity up to ~65%. Correct me if I am wrong please. Still have to move my broody hen, so she can get her ducklings.


As for my lack of eggs, I'm going to try to make my nest boxes into "roll away nest boxes" on Wednesday or Thursday.

My two cayugas made it through their first night just fine

They waddle up into their house as soon as I open the tractor to grab their water. Shy ducks, really hoping I can tame them a bit. Duck TV is so funny!

 

[minihorse927]

My 18 orpington eggs that I set and they started hatching 2 days early? They all hatched by last night! Yay, right? WRONG! 18 eggs, should produce 50% black and 50% chocolate. What did I get? 16 black chicks and 2 chocolates. I threw the black split to chocolate roo out and put my new mauve boy in!

 

[hennible]

Glad you your tomatoes out Felix
Soon, briard soon, fluffy ducks... e
Crazy mimi.
Off to the garden I go.

 

[BriardChickens]

@hennible have fun in the garden! Me, I only have one giant planter/pot for salad beside the front door. We plan do built a house this year, so no garden beds until the house is up.

@minihorse927 if chocolate is dominant it would be just unfortunate luck. Otherwise, yeah, change roosters. Still, yeah for hatches!!!

 

[BriardChickens]

Nah, chair gets to move away. The sheets keep changing, so it might not always be something black there.

Some of the tomatoes moved outside yesterday too (they were starting to touch the ceiling). I now made a couple of self watering pots, we'll see how they work. I didn't put an overflow valve in, I thought I'd try without at first.

I am guessing no more chances of frost where you are? We still had -2C this morning....

 

[minihorse927]

@hennible
 have fun in the garden! Me, I only have one giant planter/pot for salad beside the front door. We plan do built a house this year, so no garden beds until the house is up.

@minihorse927
 if chocolate is dominant it would be just unfortunate luck. Otherwise, yeah, change roosters. Still, yeah for hatches!!!

just crazy. The first 2 hatches were 50/50. Last year dominated in chocolates with the same rooster. This year he's popping out the blacks for some reason.

 

[Ravynscroft]

My 18 orpington eggs that I set and they started hatching 2 days early? They all hatched by last night! Yay, right? WRONG! 18 eggs, should produce 50% black and 50% chocolate. What did I get? 16 black chicks and 2 chocolates. I threw the black split to chocolate roo out and put my new mauve boy in!

Huh, I thought splits produced 25% of that color...

just crazy. The first 2 hatches were 50/50. Last year dominated in chocolates with the same rooster. This year he's popping out the blacks for some reason.

Strange, very strange...

I am impatiently waiting for a box...

 

[minihorse927]

Since he's breeding 2 chocolate hens then he should produce 50/50. Guess it's just bad luck.

Is it already there?