Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Poultry and Pets => The Hen House => Topic started by: ben89 on March 04, 2011, 13:17

Title: Oh NO - Eggeaters
Post by: ben89 on March 04, 2011, 13:17

one of my hens just laid an egg and then the 3 of them muched on it!

Title: Re: Oh NO - Eggeaters
Post by: Casey76 on March 04, 2011, 13:27

If the egg was soft, or only had a very thin shell then it is highly likely that your hens will do this.  It is natures way to ensure that predators aren't attracted to the nest.

It the egg had a good shell, then you have a bit more of a problem.  Put a pot egg into the next box and let the hens peck and peck at it.  They will get sick of pecking at an unbreakable egg, and eventually give up.

But egg eating is very difficult to berak, and some keepers will say the only way to cure egg eating is to eat the egg eater.

Title: Re: Oh NO - Eggeaters
Post by: ben89 on March 04, 2011, 13:29

Thanks for that ... whats a Pot egg ? tho

Title: Re: Oh NO - Eggeaters
Post by: Casey76 on March 04, 2011, 13:39

It's a fake egg, usually made of china, which is used to encourage hens to lay in a nest box, or to encourage a hen to sit.

However golf balls will do in this instance!

Title: Re: Oh NO - Eggeaters
Post by: joyfull on March 04, 2011, 13:40

Exactly what it says it is - an egg shaped piece of pottery (these are used to encourage laying and to show hens where to lay).

Title: Re: Oh NO - Eggeaters
Post by: PaulineM on March 04, 2011, 14:49

Hi
Don't panic yet, it might have been a one off if the shell broke after being layed.
They might have just been doing some coop-work for you  :D
If it becomes a problem then it's time to panic a bit  :ohmy: