brickmom68
In the Brooder
- Jan 19, 2022
- 36
- 30
- 46
Can anyone give me some advice about dealing with an egg eater?
Some background info:
I was dealing with a broody hen (Buff Orp). A few days in the penalty box and some frozen bottles under her butt broke her. A day or so after I integrated her back into the flock I found egg albumin and yolk under the roosting bars (no shell to be found) with one of my black australorps (Boss Lady) pecking at the egg insides. I thought maybe my broody hen had glitchy equipment that wasn’t back up to speed yet. I threw some extra calcium out for them and they appeared to eat it.
This morning one of my buff orps was in a nesting box. After a bit I went out to collect her egg. Her box was empty but in the box next to it was one of my black australorps (Miss Boss Lady) feasting on a broken egg. I *think* she may have pushed the buff’s egg into the adjacent box for her feast. She wasn’t happy about me removing her and the contents one bit. And after I put more material in the box she went right back to it, searching for her prize.
Additionally, I’ve also integrated pullets into the hen house at this time as well.
They were in an adjacent brooder pen and integrated into the yard during the day—but they’ve just started sleeping in the main coop at night as well.
I realize I need to try and collect the laid eggs ASAP. But other than that what are other ways to discourage this behavior?
Have I had too many *life changes* in too short a time span?
Do I have to put her in the penalty box now?
Sorry this is lengthy, but I thought maybe context was needed here.
Some background info:
I was dealing with a broody hen (Buff Orp). A few days in the penalty box and some frozen bottles under her butt broke her. A day or so after I integrated her back into the flock I found egg albumin and yolk under the roosting bars (no shell to be found) with one of my black australorps (Boss Lady) pecking at the egg insides. I thought maybe my broody hen had glitchy equipment that wasn’t back up to speed yet. I threw some extra calcium out for them and they appeared to eat it.
This morning one of my buff orps was in a nesting box. After a bit I went out to collect her egg. Her box was empty but in the box next to it was one of my black australorps (Miss Boss Lady) feasting on a broken egg. I *think* she may have pushed the buff’s egg into the adjacent box for her feast. She wasn’t happy about me removing her and the contents one bit. And after I put more material in the box she went right back to it, searching for her prize.
Additionally, I’ve also integrated pullets into the hen house at this time as well.
They were in an adjacent brooder pen and integrated into the yard during the day—but they’ve just started sleeping in the main coop at night as well.
I realize I need to try and collect the laid eggs ASAP. But other than that what are other ways to discourage this behavior?
Have I had too many *life changes* in too short a time span?
Do I have to put her in the penalty box now?
Sorry this is lengthy, but I thought maybe context was needed here.