- Jul 14, 2013
- 29
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So my new to me flock of 5 hens seems to be acclimated to their new home. They have mostly resumed egg laying and recognize me and my wife when we come to the coop area. So I think they have gotten over the stress of moving a few weeks ago.
There is a new problem, however which has come up, someone has started eating the eggs. This happened once a week ago with one egg, and then on two eggs today. In all cases, it only seems to happen with eggs laid in the left nesting box.
I am curious as the the possible causes for this. I have done some searching on the problem, but I think that these hens are getting plenty of feed (layer plus scratch and all some leftovers and all the insects they can catch). They look healthy. They have access to oyster shell, and water (although the water and feed are outside under the coop, so they go without when they are locked in overnight). The egg eating seems to happen during the day so they have feed & water at that time; that is if we don't collect the eggs mid-day or are late getting out there that is when it happens.
I previously took care of this flock for a few weeks before they moved here, and only picked up the eggs every two days, with no cases of egg eating. So I think this is a new behavior. I am wondering if this might be a territorial thing, with one hen eating the eggs of others who lay in "her" nest box?
One thing which did change as we are using an organic layer mix, where before they were getting Purina layer pellets. I did try offering them their old pellets and they seem to prefer the new feed.
Beyond that, I will try some of the suggestions: putting golf balls in the nests, more access to oyster shell, checking for eggs more frequently.
Anything else I should do? I am a bit concerned because we are going away for a week and a neighbor is taking care of the flock while we are gone. But he is not going to be able to check for eggs several times a day as we can.
TIA
There is a new problem, however which has come up, someone has started eating the eggs. This happened once a week ago with one egg, and then on two eggs today. In all cases, it only seems to happen with eggs laid in the left nesting box.
I am curious as the the possible causes for this. I have done some searching on the problem, but I think that these hens are getting plenty of feed (layer plus scratch and all some leftovers and all the insects they can catch). They look healthy. They have access to oyster shell, and water (although the water and feed are outside under the coop, so they go without when they are locked in overnight). The egg eating seems to happen during the day so they have feed & water at that time; that is if we don't collect the eggs mid-day or are late getting out there that is when it happens.
I previously took care of this flock for a few weeks before they moved here, and only picked up the eggs every two days, with no cases of egg eating. So I think this is a new behavior. I am wondering if this might be a territorial thing, with one hen eating the eggs of others who lay in "her" nest box?
One thing which did change as we are using an organic layer mix, where before they were getting Purina layer pellets. I did try offering them their old pellets and they seem to prefer the new feed.
Beyond that, I will try some of the suggestions: putting golf balls in the nests, more access to oyster shell, checking for eggs more frequently.
Anything else I should do? I am a bit concerned because we are going away for a week and a neighbor is taking care of the flock while we are gone. But he is not going to be able to check for eggs several times a day as we can.
TIA
