[Zak the Rabbit]

just noted from another thread the idea of using fake eggs to encourage the girls to lay where you want them to, does enyone know where to get these?

two of my girls are laying now, both in the far right corner of the house, the most inaccessible spot! All four are sleeping in the nest box instead!

If i could encourage them to use the nest box it would save me crippling myself collecting eggs, or risking them legging it around the garden as i climb over the perch!

[richyrich7]

They like a dark place to lay Zac, take them out of the nest box each night and place them on the perch.

Use a golf ball as a fake egg.

[Zak the Rabbit]

the nest box is pretty dark, although i guess it gets a bit more light from the window than that corner does, theres no direct light at all,

thought about the golf ball, but i havent any of those either  mind you, im sure i could scrounge one easily enough.

are they as happy with the golf ball? i'd have thought they could tell the difference. That said, they have only just started laying, so still 'impressionable'

[richyrich7]

the nest box is pretty dark, although i guess it gets a bit more light from the window than that corner does, theres no direct light at all,

You could try hanging curtains over the front of the nest box, I kid you not mine have a hessian strips hanging in front    they need to be strips so they can get in easy. It's important to get them out of the habit of sleeping in there. IMHO

are they as happy with the golf ball? i'd have thought they could tell the difference.

Nah they are thick a golf ball works fine.

[poultrygeist]

Nah they are thick a golf ball works fine.

Mind you, they do wonder why their eggs don't have Titleist stamped on them when they start laying.

Rob

[richyrich7]

Nah they are thick a golf ball works fine.

Mind you, they do wonder why their eggs don't have Titleist stamped on them when they start laying.

Rob

 

I used a shop bought egg with the lot before these, and my son then 8 came running down the garden with an egg so pleased, then he asked me how they got the date on them    

[poultrygeist]

   

Easy mistake.

[Zak the Rabbit]

I put yesterdays egg back in yesterday, in the nest box, to encourage them. This morning there was another egg - exactly where the others have been

so, its not convinced them yet. I might try and get them to use the perch tonight

[NormandyMary]

I saw fake eggs in the pet department of our local garden centre the other day. I did consider getting some, but luckily my girlies have decided to come to the party at last! (Must have been the threat of the Paxo box...works every time!)

[Wildeone]

I tried the3 above trick today with my hens as they were laying right at the furthest point from the door and they moved the ball!!!  :?  Clutch of eggs and fake ball or on the otherside of t'coop!!!   Clever girls

[richyrich7]

I tried the3 above trick today with my hens as they were laying right at the furthest point from the door and they moved the ball!!!  :?  Clutch of eggs and fake ball or on the otherside of t'coop!!!   Clever girls

   

[Zak the Rabbit]

found a yellow golf ball in the shed yesterday, gonna give that a go. Only one of them was using the perch, then last night two of them, tonight three

maybe they are getting the idea of what the nest box is really for

[Aunt Sally]

If you put a temporary pile of logs or bricks etc in the place where you don't want them to lay they will HAVE to lay somewhere else

[ck2day]

I tried that Aunty when my Amberlinks laid in the builders yard next door. Worked for all but one who insists on going even further into the builders yard now to lay her eggs.

Maybe she has a thing for one of the builders mates!!

[Aunt Sally]

Maybe she has a thing for one of the builders mates!!

 :shock: