Egg Pecking

[krista74]

Today, as I foraged around collecting eggs from the nesting boxes, I found an egg which had been laid under the roost.

Someone (not looking at anyone, Orpy....) had pecked a hole in the egg.

It was a small hole, about the size of half your pinky finger nail.

The membrane of the egg had not been pierced (and subsequently, no egg was eaten.)

My 6 girls have been laying between 2 weeks and 2 months now.

The two Orpingtons (not to single them out!) have been laying the longest.

WHAT THE?!

Why is one pecking a hole in her egg? And more importantly, how can I stop it? That is one egg wasted as far as I'm concerned, and I don't want more to go down the drain.

They already have fake eggs in all the nest boxes, and USUALLY will lay in them. Occasionally, when the favourite nest box is already taken, Orpy will lay under the roost (again, I'm not blaming anyone....)

Thanks in advance,

Krista

 

[Frindizzle]

Hi Krista,

I do not know why, it depends, but one way is put mustard in an egg- they remember the taste. Another is keeping the fake eggs in and keeping they others out(collect them about 3 times a day when you can) and then they will think when they peck it, the eggs can not be open, and they might give up. These work usually, I hope this helps!