I just don't understand

[hisbride]

My pullets are 16 weeks and everytime I put pine straw in their nesting boxes they scratch it clean out! I don't want their first eggs to be cracked because it didn't have something soft to land on.
We also introduced them to the old ladies and let them in their run and one of the pullets got up on the nesting box and started pecking and eating an egg. Great now a few have a taste for eggs.
And our Cochin rooster still hasn't crowed. I guess there is hope as I did see him chasing the girls but they out run him or he is just too lazy to catch one. I hope he realizes who is is soon.

 

[justusnak]

Are your nest boxes deep enough? Is there a board on the front of them, to stop it from falling out? Mine have a wooden box, on its side, with 2....2 inch boards accross the bottom to keep the straw in. Dont know what to tell you about the egg eater...hmmmm.

 

[seedcorn]

I'd pull the egg eater out of the pen. She will soon educate the other hens that the eggs are good to eat.

 

[sara]

You could cut a peice of carpet and put it in the bottom of the nest box, they won't be able to scratch that out.

 

[hisbride]

Yes there is a board that runs across the nesting boxes. Hens that we have had before have used these these nesting boxes. I just looked in their and each box was filled with poo!

 

[WoodlandWoman]

Well, they are just being bad!

 

[poppycat]

Try filling the nest boxes with pine shavings instead. They pack down better and your eggs will be cleaner too. And give the pullets some time to figure out the eggs. Mine pecked them to pieces when they started laying. I just made sure to collect them ASAP so they weren't an interesting temptation. Now they don't pay them any attention.

 

[BeckyLa]

Along with the pine shavings you might try putting a couple golf balls in each nest. Hopefully after pecking those a few times they'll lose interest.

 

[FluffyChickenMama]

I tried to use the shavings and my chickens threw them out too.. as soon as I got the nests all ready and clean they would get busy throwing out the shavings.. so I went to walmart and bought those astroturf type rugs.. they are green and has a big ole white daisy in the corner.. I cut them and put them in the nest.. the chickens love them.. when they are out free ranging they will come back to the nest to lay most of the time.. the best part is they only cost like two dollars and some few cents and you can clean them off with a water hose...

 

[hisbride]

I love this idea! Thanks!!