Egg eaters

[kklowell]

I didn't get many eggs yesterday and didn't find any broken shells, but I did notice that one of my white Rocks had a very dirty breast, and one nest box had a wet floor. I blocked that box off to keep them out of it until it's dry. Today I did find a broken egg, and three birds VERY interested in leaning in and pecking at that box. One of them was my other rock, and she has yolk on her breast. Obviously, more than one of my girls has discovered that eggs taste good. I'd cull one... I can't cull three, so I'm going to rebuild my boxes to have roll-out ramps and collection areas. I'm betting my egg production will instantly go up. I've been looking at DIY designs and see several that I like.

 

[kklowell]

I'm wondering if anyone has tried a design like this. I have limited space and can't do the through the wall egg collection box, and don't want to extend the bottom of the box into the coop by a foot. If I padded the egg-laying floor, the corner where the egg would drop, and the angled floor of the collection area, do you think the eggs would survive?

 

[aart]

First, would be good to catch them in the act so you can see if shell is soft or thin.

Second, do not just let the remaining mess 'dry' clean out the bedding, put something on bottom of nest that is easy to clean or toss(I use piece of vinyl flooring with an extra to quickly swap out) some folks use folded feedbags.

Third, there are a ton of roll out nests designs here.
Your design looks good, would need padding along the way.

Fourth, your signature is hilarious, I hope you can finish the roll out ne

 

[kklowell]

I've never had a soft shell that I'm aware of. EVery egg I've collected has had a nice solid shell, which truly surprised me as I expected some soft eggs to start. They've been very tiny, but with good shells.
I bought plywood and other materials last night and today after work I'll build the roll out nesting boxes. I have carpet for the floor of the collection area, but I also bought vinyl tiles to try on the actual laying floor. Hopefully, they will accept the tiles and lay eggs there. That way I'd have a good surface for cleaning

 

[aart]

Vinyl tiles on laying floor might be too hard, could break eggs when they drop.
Did you know they stand up when the egg actually emerges?
there are nesting pads for rollaway nests, the offer some cushion and are washable, well worth the price.
Some folks have kept some bedding in nests at first so birds will still use them, then slowly remove bedding as they get used to the new surfaces.

ETA: real curious to see how your design works out.
Might want to attach angled pieces with something adjustable so you can adjust as necessary for optimal performance.

 

[WILIFORD]

I didn't get many eggs yesterday and didn't find any broken shells, but I did notice that one of my white Rocks had a very dirty breast, and one nest box had a wet floor. I blocked that box off to keep them out of it until it's dry. Today I did find a broken egg, and three birds VERY interested in leaning in and pecking at that box. One of them was my other rock, and she has yolk on her breast. Obviously, more than one of my girls has discovered that eggs taste good. I'd cull one... I can't cull three, so I'm going to rebuild my boxes to have roll-out ramps and collection areas. I'm betting my egg production will instantly go up. I've been looking at DIY designs and see several that I like.

Before you assume it is one of your hens, which it maybe, but let me explain what I experienced. Maybe it will help. I had the same issue. I never witnessed one of my hens initially breaking the egg, but I did catch several eating from an egg that was broken by something. I purchased a cheap trail cam off of amazon and placed it in the coop. What I witnessed was a blue jay go in to the hen house, break an egg, eat its fill and leave. The hens came along a enjoyed what was left. I thought this is going to be harder to deal with than if it were one of my layers. A couple of days later as I was preparing to clean the coop I watched the jay enter the coop and promptly closed the door trapping the jay in the coop. You may not like the next part, I retrieved a tennis rack, entered the coop and well, the problem was corrected.

 

[kklowell]

Vinyl tiles on laying floor might be too hard, could break eggs when they drop.
Did you know they stand up when the egg actually emerges?
there are nesting pads for rollaway nests, the offer some cushion and are washable, well worth the price.
Some folks have kept some bedding in nests at first so birds will still use them, then slowly remove bedding as they get used to the new surfaces.

ETA: real curious to see how your design works out.
Might want to attach angled pieces with something adjustable so you can adjust as necessary for optimal performance.

I'm a bit concerned about the hardness, even more so now that you've said they stand up as the egg emerges. I did not know that.
I do plan to make the laying floor adjustable for the angle. Also thinking about some vertical carpet strips attached to the roof of the collection area to slow the eggs down as they roll.

 

[kklowell]

Before you assume it is one of your hens, which it maybe, but let me explain what I experienced. Maybe it will help. I had the same issue. I never witnessed one of my hens initially breaking the egg, but I did catch several eating from an egg that was broken by something. I purchased a cheap trail cam off of amazon and placed it in the coop. What I witnessed was a blue jay go in to the hen house, break an egg, eat its fill and leave. The hens came along a enjoyed what was left. I thought this is going to be harder to deal with than if it were one of my layers. A couple of days later as I was preparing to clean the coop I watched the jay enter the coop and promptly closed the door trapping the jay in the coop. You may not like the next part, I retrieved a tennis rack, entered the coop and well, the problem was corrected.

I know for sure it's one or more of the hens... every opening to the coop except the pop door is covered with HW cloth. The pop door opens to the run which is covered with 1" mesh chicken wire, and I have never seen any kind of bird around the run.

 

[aart]

I do plan to make the laying floor adjustable for the angle. Also thinking about some vertical carpet strips attached to the roof of the collection area to slow the eggs down as they roll.

Not a bad idea, tho the biggest potential time for breakage would be dropping out of the when then dropping down to second ramp. A bumper at bottom of collection slope would take care of crash landings there...then again rolling into accumulating eggs would warrant the vertical 'speed strips'. Sorry, rambling.

 

[WILIFORD]

I have rollaway boxes that I built myself. Your design looks as if it should work. I am not saying my design is the best, but it does work. The floor is on a 12 degree angle and is covered with cheap thin astro turf. It is not attached so I can remove it and hose it off as needed, I have 2 sets, so I can install clean ones while I am cleaning the soiled ones. Additionally the wall at which the egg will finally come to rest against, I have stapled a 1 1/2" strip of thin rubber matting along the area where the egg comes to rest. the rubber is like you would put in a kitchen draw, or a toolbox. This goes the full length of the wall. The only eggs I have had break is once in awhile, when and egg makes contact with another egg, it will break. This occurs pretty rarely, but it happens. I hope this helps.