How to stop egg breaking?

[WillowMoonWyandottes]

I have some Heritage Rhode Island Reds 2 hens and a rooster I got from a breeder and they were a year old when I got them. One hen does fine and goes up in the nesting box no problem and lays her eggs, the other hen lays her eggs on the ground and I’m assuming they peck at it and eat it because all that is left is a empty egg shell. I have a nesting box on the ground also just in case she didn’t want to jump to the one higher up but she is refusing to lay in the box. Does anyone have any advice on what to do in this situation? I really need to be getting both eggs if I plan on incubating more than 4 at a time lol.

 

[Aunt Angus]

Ooh, that's a tough habit to break. Do you have just the one box? That's plenty for 2 hens, but you may need another.

I've read that ppl have had to "train" their hens by picking them up when they see them setting and put them in the nest.

 

[WillowMoonWyandottes]

Ooh, that's a tough habit to break. Do you have just the one box? That's plenty for 2 hens, but you may need another.

I've read that ppl have had to "train" their hens by picking them up when they see them setting and put them in the nest.

I have 2 boxes higher up and one box on the ground but she seems to be looking for somewhere to lay but doesn’t like what I offered I’m guessing, I have ceramic eggs in the boxes to make them more enticing but she still seems to overlook them. Also I honestly have never been able to catch her laying the egg

 

[Aunt Angus]

I have 2 boxes higher up and one box on the ground but she seems to be looking for somewhere to lay but doesn’t like what I offered I’m guessing, I have ceramic eggs in the boxes to make them more enticing but she still seems to overlook them. Also I honestly have never been able to catch her laying the egg

The other option is checking for eggs frequently, if you can. If you can narrow down when she lays, you might be able to get in there and snag it before it gets broken. That requires time, though, and that makes it difficult....

I had an egg eater, too. It turns out that all my girls like 1 of the 4 boxes I have. If someone was in it, whoever was waiting would lay on the floor. I think it would get broken, like what you said you're experiencing. Then they'd eat it. I started moving the boxes around. And I put the same bedding material that's in the coop in the boxes, too. I ended up putting them all on the floor. Something I did worked. I haven't had one broken/eaten since.

 

[WillowMoonWyandottes]

The other option is checking for eggs frequently, if you can. If you can narrow down when she lays, you might be able to get in there and snag it before it gets broken. That requires time, though, and that makes it difficult....

I had an egg eater, too. It turns out that all my girls like 1 of the 4 boxes I have. If someone was in it, whoever was waiting would lay on the floor. I think it would get broken, like what you said you're experiencing. Then they'd eat it. I started moving the boxes around. And I put the same bedding material that's in the coop in the boxes, too. I ended up putting them all on the floor. Something I did worked. I haven't had one broken/eaten since.

Okay thanks. I will try to catch her laying it. I’m thinking as soon as it’s layed the rooster thinks it’s a treat for his hens and starts pecking at it until it breaks and it’s formed a habit. He has been in the nesting boxes oddly enough and at first preventing the hen from getting in them. I’m starting to assume he might be the problem, if only I could get the other hen to lay in the box it might fix the problem

 

[rosemarythyme]

Okay thanks. I will try to catch her laying it.

It's tough but if you can figure out her timing, what I do is:

Now this isn't practical if you don't have time to stalk them, but what I did was I learned the problem bird(s) laying schedules, and when they went to their preferred spot to lay, I'd go and pick them up, stick them in a nest box, and barricade them in using my arms to cover the exit. 30-60 seconds was all they needed to calm down and start exploring the box and decide that maybe it wasn't such a bad place to be. They each started reliably using the boxes after that.

Alternatively, some folks design "doors" on their nest boxes so birds can be locked in, which basically does the same as above, but forces the bird to stay in the nest box (whereas once I see them exploring and sitting down in the nest, I leave them to it and walk away).

 

[aart]

all that is left is a empty egg shell

Is the shell good and thick....or thin and weak?

What all and how exactly are you feeding?
Please post pic of the nests and the coop and run.

 

[WillowMoonWyandottes]

Is the shell good and thick....or thin and weak?

What all and how exactly are you feeding?
Please post pic of the nests and the coop and run.

I would say the egg shells are not the strongest, I’m feeding them layer pellets, a scoop full every day and I have oyster shells in there also because I noticed with the other hen that is laying in the box her shells are kind of weak. I might try a different brand of food but not sure what might be causing it.

 

[WillowMoonWyandottes]

Please post pic of the nests and the coop and run.

There are 2 nesting box’s in the back that are up high and the 2 containers/box’s on the ground because I was trying to see if she would prefer to lay in those. One hen was in the box in the back as you can see, but the other hen I think is to scared to jump up there, I might have to build a ramp or something to make it easier for her.

 

[aart]

I’m feeding them layer pellets, a scoop full every day and I have oyster shells in there also because I noticed with the other hen that is laying in the box her shells are kind of weak.

Not sure how big a 'scoop' is,
but they should have unlimited access to feed every hour they are awake.
Is the OS in a separate feeder...and are they eating it?