Stop eating your own eggs!!!

[Judy]

It's happened to me a few times. I think they just step on one occasionally, in their clumsiness, and break it. I've found them half eaten, too. Evidently I've never gotten a true egg eater. I've read that if you do, there's really no way to break them.

But there is one thing: rollaway nest boxes. And one more you didn't mention, darkening the nest as with a cloth curtain -- if you can still get them to use the nest box. Evidently, what they can't see, they won't eat. Just what I've read on here.

 

[Petej]

Now that I think about it, it's oddly coincidental that I have a light out there at night, and now I have one eating eggs....

I'll turn the light off (it's for heat, more than light) tonight and see if that helps. Also my coop has no windows except for a small one in the door. Plus a tarp over the top, so it's fairly dark in there during the day.....

 

[swimmer]

Sounds like a good idea turning the light off.

 

[Petej]

I think I figured out the light schedule too.

They need somewhere around 16 hours of light a day to get max production. So, for now, light is on at 4PM and off at around 11PM.....

No more eaten eggs. I think I got the right one.

Now, time to decide whether she is Stew and Dumplings or if she will live in a cage for a while....

 

[Judy]

14 hours is what I've read.

I'd be tempted to turn the light off entirely until I got the egg eating thing resolved, one way or another.

 

[Petej]

I have the light off right now. Even the Quail light is off.

My Girls and boys will get a good nights rest.....

I just got back from work too, no eggs in the hen house, but I got one from the Quail.

I'm going to ASSume that verifying fertility of Quail eggs, is just like that of chickens? Break one open and look for the Blastoderm or Blastodisc?

If what I think I saw was what I think it is then

I have seven incubating now.....

 

[emvickrey]

Quote:
What is BOSS. I've seen that word alot lately.

 

[Petej]

If this is correct: http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Boss%20%28slang%29

1. Boss (slang)


extremely cool, or something thats the best.

EX: DUDEEEE thats so boss (slang)

 

[Yay Chicks!]

BOSS - Black Oil Sunflower Seeds. They eat the shell and all. They have Omega 6, I believe, which may help to curb their going for the eggs.

 

[Petej]

Jeez, I went of on a Tangent there!

Thank you for letting us know!

Looks like I may find some seeds soon. I also need to replenish my supply of oyster shell....