roll away nest box

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moomoos42

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roll away nest box
« on: May 16, 2013, 02:11 »
I have ex-bats and a few older hens and they keep laying soft shelled/ no shelled eggs.
I've tried apple cider vinegar and supplements but i just think it's old age.
trouble is they have developed a taste for their own egg, so if the egg doesn't break when laid they help it along!
 i don't mind to much as they are pets but the nesting box gets in such a mess and so do they.
 i wondered if roll away nest box would work?
Any ideas would be great.
Thank you

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GrannieAnnie

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Re: roll away nest box
« Reply #1 on: May 16, 2013, 08:23 »
I used to use rollaways.  They are good, but the ones I've got now our hens don't like much, so I've had to take them out.  Helps keep the eggs clean too as they don't get pooed on!

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Sassy

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Re: roll away nest box
« Reply #2 on: May 16, 2013, 08:34 »
Would they work for a soft/no-shelled egg? :(
Experience is what you get when you didn't get what you wanted!!

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GrannieAnnie

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Re: roll away nest box
« Reply #3 on: May 16, 2013, 08:37 »
If the egg can roll into it at least it would keep it away from the egg eater, but if the soft shelled egg then got squashed by another egg rolling into it, it would drip onto the floor and perhaps still get eaten, depends if the rollaway has a solid or slotted bottom.

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ANHBUC

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Re: roll away nest box
« Reply #4 on: May 16, 2013, 11:34 »
Have you tried giving them limestone flour moosmoos42? 
Ain't Nobody Here But Us Chickens!
Bagpuss RIP 1992 - June 2012, 1 huge grass carp (RIP "Jaws" July 2001 - December 2011), 4 golden orfe, 1 goldfish and 1 fantail fish (also huge)! plus 4 Italian quail, 1 Japanese quail, 1 Rosetta quail.

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pepsi100

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Re: roll away nest box
« Reply #5 on: May 17, 2013, 00:28 »
I use a 'roll away nest box, they are brilliant, and yes they do stop the eggs getting broken and out of sight (and getting pooed on )

I would recommend them highly (you can either buy 'em from the auction website or make your own ) the ones on the auction website are very well made, just need a drop of paint or wood preserver on them, I bought my first one there them made my own after that

(but to stop the 'egg eater', it might be a case of 'blowing' an egg and filling it with mustard, chilli sauce and let them eat that, but I have tried that, it didnt work, but after they stopped laying for the winter and started the following year, they never ate them any more or showed any interest in them)

A fake egg might work :(

Ref the soft eggs, I did have that problem,

I made up a porridge of layers mash (just add warm water) and mix in a couple of teaspoons of small oyster shell grit, I give it in the mornings, its lucky if it last 30 minutes,

I also 'cook' egg shells, grind them up into a sort of dust (in a coffee grinder) and add that to the porridge (someone here mentioned this about the egg shells)

So far I havent had a soft shell egg so far (I have had some huge eggs and funny shaped eggs though)

Give either a try, got nothing to lose (and the hens might like the porridge)
It's all about the journey, not the destination

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Sassy

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Re: roll away nest box
« Reply #6 on: May 17, 2013, 08:12 »
They usually lurve porridge :)

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pepsi100

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Re: roll away nest box
« Reply #7 on: May 17, 2013, 08:24 »
They usually lurve porridge :)

Great, just add the oyster shell or the ground up shells,

(keep me updated if you get a rol away nest box and the soft eggsl)

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moomoos42

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Re: roll away nest box
« Reply #8 on: May 17, 2013, 16:22 »
Thanks everyone. i have tried lime flour and egg shells and oyster shells  but they are all 3 year old ex-bats and their eggs are very odd now. no shells, just shells, soft shells, whole eggs, lumps  of mixed up shells, :(
I've tried all these ideas but nothing works. as i type poor Sybil is in the front room with a stuck 'egg' again, where the egg has not formed and is stuck inside her. hot water soak and some quite time usually works. i hadn't thought about the eggs not rolling away if they are soft. not going to work really. they never try to eat a normal egg, only these broken soft ones.
ex-bats are very rewarding but so damaged they have lots of problems.
Thanks again

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ANHBUC

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Re: roll away nest box
« Reply #9 on: May 17, 2013, 16:26 »
Try a little vegetable/sunflower oil as lubricant for her to help her pass the softie.   ;)

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pepsi100

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Re: roll away nest box
« Reply #10 on: May 17, 2013, 16:28 »
It might be worth a visit to a vet then, its got to be a good idea, these birds really sound in a sorry state



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