WOW saw my hen lay two eggs in a row

[allisojo]

I thought (perhaps incorrectly) that gamebird feed was to fatten them up for the slaughter. I could be entirely incorrect, though. If you find out what its primary purpose is, I'd be interested to know. Thanks.

 

[chickensducks&agoose]

Okay, I might be admitting to doing something stupid, but i let my hens pick through my compost, which includes broken egg shells... not crushed, just cracked into 2 pieces, and then put into the mix. They sometimes peck at them, sometimes ignore them, but never, never eat their own eggs. I lost a few eggs when i had a hen refuse to go in the nestbox, and instead she laid them off the perch and they either broke on the floor, or got stomped. I think it may just be hen boredom, or something. my hens are always on the go, with the goose, ducks and dog bugging them for whatever they have. good luck!

 

[Eliza]

OK, here's the latest damage. I just tried filling a blown out egg chocka full with French's mustard. I sealed the holes with wax and laid the bait in the hen house. THE HENS WENT BESERK they attacked that egg like high schoolers on a big mac! Some got the mustard and scurried away horrified - the two biggest girls got the goods - the shells and bolted them down. Next step - and believe me, visions of pot pies floated in my head, I got golf balls and put them in the house. PANDAMONIUM broke out again, and quickly died as, ALAS, golf balls do not break.

SO, are my girls calcium deficient and are trying to fill this need naturally? Will the grit/oyster shell we shall purchase tomorrow fill this need. Are my eggs days over???

Next thought - currently I have no next boxes, just a long ledge filled with shavings - the whole hen house is filled with shavings - they tend to lay them under the ledge and on the ledge (which has a lip on it). Will nest boxes with wire on the floor and a space for the eggs to softly fall below - protected something to consider making????

thanks for all the quick responses.

 

[cajunlizz]

Quote:
You need nesting boxes and line them up either with pine shavings or hay . I have 2 golf balls in all of my nest . DO NOT feed them anymore cracked or crushed up egg shells .. Go get grit and laying pellets from your local feedstore . Put grit in a separate feeder . I never mix grit with the pellets . I use the large milk and coke crates and line mine all side by side on the floor , right side UP and line with hay . I have 8 in my large coop and 4 in the other coop and works well ... GOLF BALLS are also a plus . NESTING area is totally on opposite side of the roosting area , SO NO POOP IN NEST .

I KEEP SAYING GRIT , I MEANT TO SAY OYSTER SHELL

 

[PortageGirl]

Well, I've seen the 'trays' like Eliza describes work really well. A good friend swears by them and he's got a big flock of Comets that all share it and do great with it. It is true that Eliza's hens might do a lot better with the traditional 'dark nest box' so the other hens wouldn't pounce on the eggs the way they seem to be doing, but the trays can be fine and they sure are easier to keep clean and all.

I've also heard the mustard in the egg idea only using tobasco sauce or Louisiana hot sauce instead. It sounds good that at least some of them were grossed out by the mustard!

 

[cajunlizz]

What trays are you referring to ?



I have several of these large ones and also use the coke ( six pack ) containers ....

 

[Eliza]

you know we bought 4 of those milk crate type things for files and we just never used them. I'm going to put them in the hen house for now. The tray is really a 2x6 board that runs along the side of the coop under the windows because all the hens wanted to sit in the window ledge so there was quite a pile up in the windows! the ledge has a lip on it, filled with shavings. The girls like to sit on it and lay eggs, all the eggs and sleep on it. They also lay under it. The shavings fill the coop.

I'm going to try the milk crates.

Next thought. I have a 250 watt RED lamp on during the night to protect against the cold, and to help with night terrors - something that might set the birds afright and careening around in the dark. If I shut this light off, will I be effectively shutting down the egg production for now until they forget their sinful ways???

thanks for all the help guys!

 

[cajunlizz]

Quote:
before it gets dark is when the girls go on roost . they feel protected there and the higher the better .

we have a regular 40 watt light bulb in the coops and works fine . HOW BIG IS YOUR COOP ? AND HOW MANY BIRDS ? Yes , they need to be laying in nesting boxes , not laying on a ledge . that area which they enjoy is them roosting on this 2x6 . DH built our coops with nesting box area in one section of the coop and roosting area across on opposite side of the coop . ROOST is built like a huge trellis made of 2x4's . When it starts getting dusk , they start one by one entering the coop from the run . They do this just before dark , because once its dark , majority will stay on roost . Thats why you can walk up to them and pick them up while on roost at night .

 

[FrontPorchIndiana]

The red lamp doesn't seem to matter to them. Had it been a white light then maybe. When you get your nest boxes out there put the golf balls inside them. You'll be amazed how well it will draw them to lay in them.

 

[Eliza]

The hen house is 6x8 and about 10 feet high on the inside (child's playhouse) made of wood, insulated with a cedar shake roof and cedar siding. It has 6 windows. I have 12 buff orpingtons. There are probably 4 too many birds with this set up. There is also a large run attached.

The windows are set in, but one window I have left the glass out and only the iron grill up because with the 250 watt red light, unless the night was really cold there was too much condensation on the windows - so too hot for them! The birds do not pick on one another - just the eggs, which from all the responses and the on line reading I'm thinking that a couple of mistakes occured.

1. The pullets were not trained about laying - and they've only recently begun to get into the egg laying thing, I have 8 eggs a day now until today.

2. The game bird feed should be Blue Seal Home fresh Layer pellets - this food is 17% protein but super in calcium and vitamin D.

3. The birds, or at least one or two is experiencing calcium definciency - and that is probably why the prolapse occurred - even though TODAY it retracted.

TOMORROW:
Nest boxes go in for now - until I can attach them or create some that are up off the floor.

Layer pellets only - no other grains mixed so as not dilute the pellets.

Oyster grit free choice

See if the golf balls work, or paint some eggs with Louisanna Hot Sauce.

LIVE AND LEARN