lazela Posted March 30, 2008 Share Posted March 30, 2008 Yesterday was a lovely morning - Florence laid her first egg, and to announce this momentous occasion, she jumped onto the run and clucked loudly for about 3 minutes. It was so funny and very different from Gretta, who did not announce her achievement 3 days earlier. Today I thought we might be lucky to have an egg from Gretta and Florence. Nothing a breakfast time - I assumed their bodyclocks were abit all over the place with British Summertime starting. We went out until lunchtime and I let them out to free range when we got home. Florence was in the eglu, and I went to check on her. She was sitting in the nest box, and I moved her over slightly and retrieved an egg - colour and size matching Gretta's and left her to it. Florence spent a long time in the eglu but was happily chuntering to herself and the other two followed me around the garden, ever hopeful that grapes may suddenly appear around my feet. After about 10 minutes I gave up waiting for Florence to join them and thought she would probably announce her egg's arrival like yesterday. The next thing I was aware of was Gretta shifting around the garden, being chased by Florence and Mable. She had something in her mouth. Florence had emerged from the eglu, not announced an egg, and now was chasing Gretta round the garden . I shoved my wellies on and joined the chase, to discover that Gretta had an egg shell in her mouth Poor Florence. She must have been so cross with Gretta - I know I was. Is this top hen reaction to egg laying or just Gretta being an opportunist greedy-guts? I don't have any pebbles shaped like eggs, but have put a ping pong ball in the nest box. I really don't want this to be how egg production happens in our eglu. Hubby and I have agreed to frequent egg checks throughout the day, but this just isn't possible everyday - and anyway, I think Gretta knew to the second that this egg had arrived. Any other suggestions Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted March 30, 2008 Share Posted March 30, 2008 You could try pot eggs or golf balls in the nest. Hurting thier beak once or twice on one of those may put them off. Alternatively, you could carefully empty an egg and fill it with mustard, chilli or damp curry powder. That is supposed to put them off. Seems like a lot of faff to me though. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeckyBoo Posted March 30, 2008 Share Posted March 30, 2008 If she's only just started laying it may be that the shell was a bit thin and it broke on being laid, ours never touch eggs unless they're already broken. Give it a while for laying to get regular, then you'll probably find the shells are harder and not se easily broken (I have to give ours a real whack on the side of a bowl to crack them ) Mrs B Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lazela Posted March 30, 2008 Author Share Posted March 30, 2008 Florence's first egg was very firmly shelled - this ones shell was more difficult to determine given that Gretta had decided to play beak rugby! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...