Hen destroying and eating eggs

[JacinLarkwell]

Manufactured coops are always smaller than they say space side. If it says 8, it probably means like 3 or 4.

Are they getting enough calcium too? I have birds that are really delicate when it comes to calcium and protein and as soon as they aren't getting enough for whatever reason, they go for the eggs. I give them the extra they're needing and they stop. I've only ever had one bird I axed from egg eating, but that was more the straw on the camel's back than her only problem honestly

 

[VlkStinu]

Manufactured coops are always smaller than they say space side. If it says 8, it probably means like 3 or 4.

Are they getting enough calcium too? I have birds that are really delicate when it comes to calcium and protein and as soon as they aren't getting enough for whatever reason, they go for the eggs. I give them the extra they're needing and they stop. I've only ever had one bird I axed from egg eating, but that was more the straw on the camel's back than her only problem honestly

They should have a complex diet - I mix all the vitamins minerals and nutrients into their feed and I am always putting extra protein and extra calcium too. But I can't rule out completely whether this particular hen doesn't have a deficiency of protein or calcium. She is still moulting at the moment, but so does other 2 hens and they haven't developed this habit.

 

[David61]

does anybody use google anymore?
Laying box designs image by ladyamare on Photobucket | Chicken nesting boxes, Chicken laying boxes, Chickens backyard (pinterest.com)

roll out nest box slope - Google Search

 

[CluckerFamily]

does anybody use google anymore?
Laying box designs image by ladyamare on Photobucket | Chicken nesting boxes, Chicken laying boxes, Chickens backyard (pinterest.com)

roll out nest box slope - Google Search

Googling definitely is a great resource... I just personally trust the people on BYC more... but that is just me

 

[Kiki]

Why do you think I need a bigger coop? It is designed for a maximum of 8 hens and I have 6. It seems to suit them well and it is much easier to heat during the colder nights.

Isolating seems like a harsh and temporary solution. Because what would I achieve by isolation? I could isolate her throughout the day, but she would spend the night in the same coop anyway. And hearing the experience of Aapomp831, she could as well just resume this habit once she is allowed back to the flock.

Is there no way she will stop on her own? When she starts laying by spring?

You cram six chickens in this at night?

 

[Kiki]

They should have a complex diet - I mix all the vitamins minerals and nutrients into their feed and I am always putting extra protein and extra calcium too. But I can't rule out completely whether this particular hen doesn't have a deficiency of protein or calcium. She is still moulting at the moment, but so does other 2 hens and they haven't developed this habit.

What exactly are you feeding them?

 

[electrycmonk]

I was thinking about modifications to the nest boxes, but the problem is I have very little space for any modifications because the nests are outside of the coop, as you can see on this picture. I don't really know how I could change this layout without risking safety of the hens (so a weasel or marten couldn't get in).

View attachment 2479284

a simple yet, rough suggestion.... to give your hens some elbow room.
here is my basic idea....

I'm currently modifying our coops inside area for our silkies.... and will be updating with some good framing images that you can use as a brainstorming aid to come up with your solution. your basically making a box with an inside skeleton and sitting it on a set of saw horses that you have trimmed the legs to have the box equal to the original coops floor.

heres what I used to find saw horse details

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=saw+horse&t=ffsb&atb=v219-1&iar=images&iax=images&ia=images

a sheet of plywood can be $12-35 (depending on the thickness you want. I would stay 1/4" or thicker. probably 3-4 of the 2"x2"x8' or 2"x3"x8' and a single 2"x4"x8' = I'd expect $10-15 for all for these boards

a box of carpendry screws ~1 5/8" long be extra careful so they don't poke thru the wood into the air space that could scratch or poke a hen to bleed.

then the cost of wood to make the saw horses... FYI there is a page that shows how to make pare of horses out of a used pallet! very solid and simple design too!


so, listen to the wisdom of the others who have walked this path before us and go forth and have fun!

 

[EmmaRainboe]

Why do you think I need a bigger coop? It is designed for a maximum of 8 hens and I have 6.

That's supposed to fit 8 hens? Looks like it would fit two... at max. Maybe four if they were bantams.

I think if you can figure out how to do a roll away nest box that could work well, but does look difficult with your current coop, however, not impossible. I think @electrycmonk has some good ideas. Best of luck.

 

[electrycmonk]

FYI, here is our coop thread..... page 5, on post #50 you scroll down to see the Mini-coop for our silkies that is a sectioned off part of the run. Their "coop" is about the same footprint as your red coop. were possible I recycled wood.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/our-coop-run-in-north-texas.1342255/page-5

 

[VlkStinu]

You cram six chickens in this at night?

Cram? They fit there perfectly fine. They spend the day out in the run on the garden, they huddle together for the night and fit in those two nest boxes (and by fit I mean they don't stand on each other's heads, they lay in the straw next to each other). There are two roost bars that can accommodate 6 roosting hens without a problem. Please be aware this is an illustrational photo and you don't see any measurements, so size estimate is very subjective.