Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Ponypoor]

Okay, so here are pictures of my nest boxes. First from the outside, then from the inside. From the outside, both the left and right nest boxes have broodies. The one on the right just got up for her food & water break. You can see her heading back in on the inside pictures.View attachment 3223326

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That’s a nice setup

 

[Ponypoor]

They pierce the egg and inject the vaccine into the amniotic fluid or breast of the embryo. They do this safely using air pressure somehow.

Very interesting

I need to investigate this also, very interesting.

 

[Ponypoor]

This video really tells you about the ranking of the Rascals. Glynda may lead them, but Lady F is her 2nd in command. She was coming to the rescue and put herself in between the two. If those 2 continue to work together they could shake things up when they are older. Lady F is going to be a big girl, she already is. With her as her back-up Aurora could very well find her position at the top in danger.

It will be very interesting watching these ladies in the future!

 

[Ribh]

Okay, so here are pictures of my nest boxes. First from the outside, then from the inside. From the outside, both the left and right nest boxes have broodies. The one on the right just got up for her food & water break. You can see her heading back in on the inside pictures.View attachment 3223326

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I think I see your issue but I can't think what you can do about it. They are very big girls & that's very squishy in there. I have the same problem with my favorelleX but she isn't the broody type. All my other hens are smaller ~ except Portia & she uses the outside nest.

 

[bgmathteach]

OK - so what is the problem that is causing them to break eggs? At least the first couple of pictures look like there is a lip stopping an egg falling out.

It isn't deep enough for a true dished nest so the hen can support herself above the eggs. She ends up resting directly on them and they break. I remember @Shadrach posting about this previously. For my DC broodies that hatched, I put them in my broodie house, which has deeper nest boxes (they were fine with the move). In those nest boxes, I put a box with about 3" of slightly damp sand, made a 'dished' nest), then put straw on top....then moved their eggs then moved them. Worked wonderful. Then hens feet/legs were on the higher, supportive edge of sand with the eggs lower, so the hens weight didn't break them, but the hen could still make contact to keep the eggs warm.
These aren't deep enough for that.

Plus, these hens get booted by some of my more dominant (personality& heirarchy wise) hens...

 

[RoyalChick]

It isn't deep enough for a true dished nest so the hen can support herself above the eggs. She ends up resting directly on them and they break. I remember @Shadrach posting about this previously. For my DC broodies that hatched, I put them in my broodie house, which has deeper nest boxes (they were fine with the move). In those nest boxes, I put a box with about 3" of slightly damp sand, made a 'dished' nest), then put straw on top....then moved their eggs then moved them. Worked wonderful. Then hens feet/legs were on the higher, supportive edge of sand with the eggs lower, so the hens weight didn't break them, but the hen could still make contact to keep the eggs warm.
These aren't deep enough for that.

Plus, these hens get booted by some of my more dominant (personality& heirarchy wise) hens...

Oh yes, I totally see what you mean.
Sorry to put you through the effort 'cos I got no suggestions! As you say, if you raised it in front it would get too small to get in and out. Though you might check that - even the big girls can get in through some tight spaces.

 

[BY Bob]

This video really tells you about the ranking of the Rascals. Glynda may lead them, but Lady F is her 2nd in command. She was coming to the rescue and put herself in between the two. If those 2 continue to work together they could shake things up when they are older. Lady F is going to be a big girl, she already is. With her as her back-up Aurora could very well find her position at the top in danger.

Aurora does not have a trusting number 2. That's for sure. Hattie does not work with her like she did with Lilly.

 

[BY Bob]

Okay, so here are pictures of my nest boxes. First from the outside, then from the inside. From the outside, both the left and right nest boxes have broodies. The one on the right just got up for her food & water break. You can see her heading back in on the inside pictures.View attachment 3223326

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That looks like it could be deep enough to me. Sydney hatched in mine and they are only 2 inches deep.

 

[Ponypoor]

Eggspensive

This seems like overkill for Fluffy Butt Acres.

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And this is the compact system.

Found this article, very interesting

https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/immunology-and-microbiology/in-ovo

 

[BY Bob]

OK - so what is the problem that is causing them to break eggs? At least the first couple of pictures look like there is a lip stopping an egg falling out.

I agree. I don't see a problem.