Weird hen

[kathytales]

I have a Cuckoo Maran hen who lays well and is a pet, but lately she has been kicking her egg out of the laying box so it falls and cracks and they eat it. It's the only egg in her favorite box so she is the one doing it. I put a barrier in front so it's harder for her to get it out, but what in the heck!?

 

[thecatumbrella]

I had an Australorp that loved having a good scratch in the nest box. She never managed to damage a real egg, but she'd punt the fake one right out the door.

What sort of bedding do you put in there for them? How large are the nesting boxes? Do you have pictures? A tighter area with more cushion and a barrier (like you already installed) could help fix the issue.

Her eating them is probably just a result of seeing them broken.

 

[rosemarythyme]

How tall is the lip of the nest box? Might have to increase it even more.

 

[kathytales]

I had an Australorp that loved having a good scratch in the nest box. She never managed to damage a real egg, but she'd punt the fake one right out the door.

What sort of bedding do you put in there for them? How large are the nesting boxes? Do you have pictures? A tighter area with more cushion and a barrier (like you already installed) could help fix the issue.

Her eating them is probably just a result of seeing them broken.

Thanks for your reply! The bedding is fir shavings. There is a fake egg in there she leaves alone. I think you are right it has to be broken for them to eat it. She still manages to boost it over the barrier occasionally. I am keeping the shavings on the floor deep enough to cushion that egg when it falls.