The 5th Annual BYC Easter Hatch-a-long!

[ronott1]

I bought a trio of delawares to get some eggs for the hatch along but i think they are eating their eggs because i see them setting in their nest box then i go check later and nothings there. Today i put a golf ball in the nest and they attacked it immediately. Is there any ways to stop them from doing this???

Worm them, treat for mites and lice. Make sure they have free choice Oyster Shell Calcium and give them a supplement like Calf Manna.

They should also have at least 20% Protein Feed.

They will stop eating the eggs. Keep the Golf Balls in the nest box too.

 

[austinbndr28]

Worm them, treat for mice and lice. Make sure they have free choice Oyster Shell Calcium and give them a supplement like Calf Manna.

They should also have at least 20% Protein Feed.

They will stop eating the eggs. Keep the Golf Balls in the nest box too.

Alright. Thank you for your help.

 

[chicken pickin]

Last week. They both layed the first day when i got them but they had already cracked their eggs and i think it started when they figured out what was in the egg.

I suppose they could be egg eaters but its more likely they stopped laying due to the stress of being rehomed. I would guess they will start up in another week, maybe 2. Just my opinion.

 

[austinbndr28]

I suppose they could be egg eaters but its more likely they stopped laying due to the stress of being rehomed. I would guess they will start up in another week, maybe 2. Just my opinion.

I hope they lay before the 29th so i can hatch some for easter.

 

[thowe]

And next to a milk cap for size comparison

What do people do with these?

 

[thowe]

Eeew...Eeew....Eeew...Eeew

How much longer till she lays that egg?

 

[tommysgirl]

I bought a trio of delawares to get some eggs for the hatch along but i think they are eating their eggs because i see them setting in their nest box then i go check later and nothings there. Today i put a golf ball in the nest and they attacked it immediately. Is there any ways to stop them from doing this???

I am sure Ron will chime in here. Do you find residue in the nest...shell fragment egg goo etc?

the golf balls are a good idea but try upping their calcium. Normally egg eating is a by-product or symptom of something else. That something else is usually thin or weak shells due to a calcium deficiency. Most egg eaters are opportunistic about it, meaning they don't go out of their way to break eggs but if one is broken they go for it. So when you strengthen shells it typically does away with the problem. Even if you already have them on a layer, give them free choice oyster shell and/or save egg shells, bake them for a time then crush them up and offer those as well.

Maybe they aren't at POL?? Have they ever laid for you or maybe they are still getting used to the move and haven't resumed laying yet.

 

[ronott1]

I am sure Ron will chime in here. Do you find reidue in the nest...shell fragment egg goo etc?

the golf balls are a good idea but try upping their calcium. Normally egg eating is a by-product or symptom of something else. That something else is usually thin or weak shells due to a calcium deficiency. Most egg eaters are oportunistic about it, meaning they don't go out of their way to break eggs but if one is broken they go for it. So when you strengthen shells it typically does away with the problem. Even if you already have them on a layer, give them free choice oyster shell and/or save egg shells, bake them for a time then crush them up and offer those as well.

Maybe they aren't at POL?? Have they ever laid for you or maybe they are still getting used to the move and haven't resummed laying yet.

Yes that is very true!

 

[austinbndr28]

I am sure Ron will chime in here. Do you find reidue in the nest...shell fragment egg goo etc?

the golf balls are a good idea but try upping their calcium. Normally egg eating is a by-product or symptom of something else. That something else is usually thin or weak shells due to a calcium deficiency. Most egg eaters are oportunistic about it, meaning they don't go out of their way to break eggs but if one is broken they go for it. So when you strengthen shells it typically does away with the problem. Even if you already have them on a layer, give them free choice oyster shell and/or save egg shells, bake them for a time then crush them up and offer those as well.

Maybe they aren't at POL?? Have they ever laid for you or maybe they are still getting used to the move and haven't resummed laying yet.

It probably is that they are getting used to their new environment. But this weekend me and my dad are going to build a new coop so they will be moved again next week.

 

[angelobutter]

What do people do with these?

well to be honest... not much haha. they are pretty though. I've heard some people keep them on the bottom of finch aviaries and they will eat up the dropped feed and keep the cage cleaner, but I haven't tried it yet. i just look at mine lol