Wild bird laying in hen's nest

[fluffy07]

Has anybody had experience of this before? Some small wild bird is regularly laying eggs in a hen's nest. We removed 4 of these eggs (photo attached with one bantam egg for comparison) but now the hen has gone broody and there are another 3 under her. I am keen for these babies to be hatched but the problem is that the broody will not be able to feed them. They will require regurgitated food. I doubt the natural mother will feed them under the broody. Any suggestions?

 

[WingItRanch]

Sounds like a case of brood parasitism. Some birds, like cowbirds, will lay their eggs in other birds nests in hopes someone else will care for their babies.

I personally would take those eggs away. You don't know what diseases the wild bird may give you chickens. Hopefully you can find a way to prevent the bird from getting in.

 

[Prunellopy]

Has anybody had experience of this before? Some small wild bird is regularly laying eggs in a hen's nest. We removed 4 of these eggs (photo attached with one bantam egg for comparison) but now the hen has gone broody and there are another 3 under her. I am keen for these babies to be hatched but the problem is that the broody will not be able to feed them. They will require regurgitated food. I doubt the natural mother will feed them under the broody. Any suggestions?View attachment 4152708

 

[Prunellopy]

I second blocking wild birds from the coop and disposing of the eggs. There have been a few backyard flocks ordered destroyed in my state from acquiring bird flu from wild birds

 

[nuthatched]

Have you seen the bird? Are you sure they aren't fairy eggs?

 

[redinator]

Have you seen the bird? Are you sure they are fairy eggs?

I was thinking the same thing. I'd stick a camera in/near the nest box too be sure.

 

[FrostRanger]

Wild bird eggs or fairy eggs, they should be removed, chickens can't care for wild bird chicks properly and fairy eggs won't hatch so they'll just rot and dirty the nest. Mark the eggs you want to hatch and remove the rest

 

[redinator]

Wild bird eggs or fairy eggs, they should be removed, chickens can't care for wild bird chicks properly and fairy eggs won't hatch so they'll just rot and dirty the nest. Mark the eggs you want to hatch and remove the rest

The camera would be too see if a wild bird is indeed getting in the nest so they'd know if blocking it off is necessary

 

[FrostRanger]

The camera would be too see if a wild bird is indeed getting in the nest so they'd know if blocking it off is necessary

True, wild birds getting in is problematic for other reasons so it would still be a good idea to see if that's what's going on anyways

 

[redinator]

If they are fairy eggs, wouldn't they be yolkless? Would cracking one to see the contents give hints? My girls haven't laid yet so this just a guess.