Favorite nesting box and pecking eggs

[Winchester94]

I have two nesting boxes for 8 hens. Only 5 or 6 are laying right now but they almost always lay in the same box every day. So far I have not got more than 4 eggs in a day but almost every time there's one that's been pecked just once. Just one little hole. Is there a way to discourage this? I've heard putting a golf ball or plastic egg in the box can work. My hens lay throughout the day and I'm not able to pick up eggs till I get home from work. Thanks yall.

 

[SpaghettiJo]

I keep a ceramic egg in the nesting boxes that I would like my girls to lay in. They help quite a bit with egg eaters too, since when they peck at them they get nothing out of them. If I were you I would invest in a few to place in the nesting boxes.. definitely put one in their favorite to discourage the egg eating (this way they are certain to see it). I wish you luck!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Putting fake eggs in both boxes should encourage laying in both boxes. Could be you are seeing pecking, or it could also be a toenail poking a hole in the eggs. Fake eggs will make curious pecking unsuccessful, so can help to stop that behavior if it's occurring.

 

[Winchester94]

Putting fake eggs in both boxes should encourage laying in both boxes. Could be you are seeing pecking, or it could also be a toenail poking a hole in the eggs. Fake eggs will make curious pecking unsuccessful, so can help to stop that behavior if it's occurring.

I never thought about the possibility that maybe it's just getting stepped on. That sounds more likely than just a single peck everyday

 

[poultry person]

You don't really have to do much it just means they are most comfortable in that box

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I never thought about the possibility that maybe it's just getting stepped on. That sounds more likely than just a single peck everyday

A toenail poke will be smaller and rounded, and a peck is usually more oval in shape.