Egg eaters

  • 4 Replies
  • 1710 Views
*

SusieB

  • Experienced Member
  • ***
  • 470
Egg eaters
« on: July 27, 2014, 19:23 »
I have two ex-batts which I've had for 18 months.  They don't lay very often and when they do the eggs are thin shelled or soft.  To compound this they eat the eggs.

I am getting two more chickens and not ex-batts this time.  Is there anyway to stop the newbies picking up this bad habit, and stopping the old girls eating all the eggs?

I don't hold out much hope, but have everything crossed.

*

8doubles

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Location: Hakin Pembrokeshire
  • 5266
Re: Egg eaters
« Reply #1 on: July 27, 2014, 23:11 »
Hope that you will find that it is only the softies and thin shelled eggs that get broken that are being recycled by the hens.
It is only natural for them to get rid of non viable eggs this way. ;)

*

joyfull

  • Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Location: lincolnshire
  • 22168
    • Monarch Engineering Ltd
Re: Egg eaters
« Reply #2 on: July 28, 2014, 08:11 »
As has been said they are only doing what is natural for them - they will eat any evidence so that predators don't get attracted to their laying area.
Do they have too many treats so they are filling up on those rather than their proper layers food, also do they have access to crushed oyster shells and greens (the dark leafy greens helps with the absorption of calcium.
Staffies are softer than you think.

*

SusieB

  • Experienced Member
  • ***
  • 470
Re: Egg eaters
« Reply #3 on: July 29, 2014, 19:48 »
Thank you.  I think I've tried most things to improve the shells and have decided it's down to them being worn out old batts.  I'm just happy they are still healthy.

Even though it's re-cycling/evidence eating, they do seem to really love the raw eggs.  But, you have given me a modicum of hope that they won't touch the strong shelled eggs. Or.......maybe they will they just pass the habit on to the newbies..... 

Good thing I love the daft birds.

*

grinling

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Location: Lincs
  • 3673
Re: Egg eaters
« Reply #4 on: July 29, 2014, 20:34 »
remember to quarantine the new ones for a couple of weeks.



xx
Egg eaters !

Started by barneyowl on The Hen House

5 Replies
1925 Views
Last post May 24, 2008, 22:59
by barneyowl
xx
egg eaters

Started by gcb on The Hen House

3 Replies
1399 Views
Last post April 24, 2010, 20:09
by joyfull
xx
Messy eaters!

Started by AmandaH on The Hen House

27 Replies
7271 Views
Last post September 18, 2009, 12:50
by AmandaH
xx
fussy eaters!

Started by Nats on The Hen House

8 Replies
2915 Views
Last post June 26, 2008, 13:16
by blossom1044
 

Page created in 0.225 seconds with 39 queries.

Powered by SMFPacks Social Login Mod
Powered by SMFPacks SEO Pro Mod |