Ain't Nobody Here Posted July 13, 2009 Share Posted July 13, 2009 As a last resort I tried filling a shop egg with extra hot chilli powder, put it in the nestbox and stepped back. In less than a minute ... "Thanks, mum, that's delicious " they all said, through beakfuls of dripping egg. So back into the kitchen to get the mustard powder . "Hmm, we're not so keen on that, mum . We'll just persevere for a bit and try to find little bits of egg that don't have any of that yucky stuff on it". They gave up eventually . So now I know I have three demon egg eaters . It's supposed to be a really hard habit to break and we're going on holiday soon . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickvic Posted July 13, 2009 Share Posted July 13, 2009 Glad you figured it out but are there no traces of shell at all? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted July 13, 2009 Author Share Posted July 13, 2009 Occasionally there are but not often enough for me to work out they were eating them . It really just looked like the occasional fragile egg that had got trodden on. I've ordered 2 pot eggs so maybe that'll do the trick. I'm going to put mustard in an egg each day till we go away too. Wish me luck . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mostin Posted July 13, 2009 Share Posted July 13, 2009 Oh dear , what a nightmare, poor you. I hadn't realised that's why you weren't getting any eggs. I hope you break them of it soon, good luck . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickvic Posted July 14, 2009 Share Posted July 14, 2009 Hope you wean them off their bad habit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted July 14, 2009 Share Posted July 14, 2009 Glad you've got to the bottom of the mystery ANH. Fingers crossed you can break the habit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WitchHazel Posted July 14, 2009 Share Posted July 14, 2009 That's rotten luck ANH. Hope you get it sorted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted July 14, 2009 Author Share Posted July 14, 2009 Sadly, it doesn't seem to be the only problem . There was an intact yolk in the poo tray this morning so there must still be softies . No sign of the shell so I suppose it must've been laid on the bars, pecked and eaten but the yolk fell through. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted July 16, 2009 Share Posted July 16, 2009 Birds are not supposed to be able to taste Chilli. That's why you can put chilli powder on bird food to stop squirrels. Sorry ANH for that bit of useless info that doesn't really help My mum says rotten eggs do the trick but I haven't a clue where you'd get one Best of luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted July 16, 2009 Author Share Posted July 16, 2009 So I've discovered . I'm now going down the route of a roll away nestbox and a couple of fake eggs (and some more mustard!) Unfortunately, we're going away on Saturday so they'll have a couple of weeks to perfect their egg-eating habits . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted July 16, 2009 Share Posted July 16, 2009 Unfortunately, we're going away on Saturday so they'll have a couple of weeks to perfect their egg-eating habits . A perfect time to make a few rotten eggs. Just phoned mum ..... she says to make few pin pricks in a few eggs and leave them in a cake tin or somesuch in the shed or the garden. Should be just right when you get home. Enjoy your hols Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted July 16, 2009 Author Share Posted July 16, 2009 Just phoned mum ..... she says to make few pin pricks in a few eggs and leave them in a cake tin or somesuch in the shed or the garden. Should be just right when you get home. Should I ask how your mum is such an expert on rotten eggs . That's not a bad tip, actually . I might just do that (although I might buy a gas mask for cleaning them up .) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted July 16, 2009 Share Posted July 16, 2009 Could you leave some mustard-filled eggs for your chicken sitters to pop in the nest each day? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted July 16, 2009 Author Share Posted July 16, 2009 That's an idea . It's a good friend who's great with animals so I'm sure she wouldn't mind! Would you break the egg, remove the contents & fill with mustard or try to mix the mustard with the contents? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted July 16, 2009 Share Posted July 16, 2009 The standard procedure is to blow the egg then fill it up with a syringe, but there must be an easier method. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hse Posted July 17, 2009 Share Posted July 17, 2009 HELP!! EARLY HENOPAUSE? Missed the first part of this, but i have what looks like a similar problem. three hens (two brown nicks, one amber comet) couple of softies started march, then less laying down from three eggs most days to two, then one, now none bar occasional softie or one egg every few days. Wormed them, upped calcium, no treats, lively, eating well, red combs, no sign of mites. They seem to be going into the nest box but when i go to look, nothing there. Could this also be a sign of egg eating? I was beginning to wonder if they were henopausal but they are only two years old. could it be the breeds? though seems odd for all three of them to go like this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted July 17, 2009 Author Share Posted July 17, 2009 That describes exactly the path I've been down . Test the theory by putting a shop bought egg in the run. My 3 fell on it like they hadn't eaten for months . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beach chick Posted July 17, 2009 Share Posted July 17, 2009 oh dear, this is a toughie! ANH and I already in touch about rollaway nest boxes. had a look at them again today - you've obviously got to prop them up somehow so the egg rolls away, so I will try that again (2 eggs broken at first try, which seemed to defeat the purpose). for the mustard eggs, maybe a mustard/water solution might work - to thin the mustard so it can be syringed into the eggshell more easily. I've been thinking about smearing a pot egg in mustard, but I guess it only works if they can get their pecky little beaks into the shell itself. may well try the rotten egg trick, if I can bring myself to do it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hse Posted July 18, 2009 Share Posted July 18, 2009 well at least I know its not just me, thanks. you would think there would be more mess in the nest box or a few clues.. i.e. broken shell somewhere? and how would i attach an egg chute thingy to a cube? My husband is beginning to read articles on how to despatch hens which is very worrying...! (not that I'd let him) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted August 3, 2009 Author Share Posted August 3, 2009 We got an egg today . And it was hard-shelled and unpecked . Maybe the mustard smeared all over an empty egg shell did the trick . Early days though - I'm not counting my chickens (or should that be eggs ). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted August 4, 2009 Share Posted August 4, 2009 Wonderful news Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickvic Posted August 4, 2009 Share Posted August 4, 2009 It's a start! What I wouldn't give for an egg... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reikiranf Posted August 5, 2009 Share Posted August 5, 2009 That's great news ANH Things are looking up here too we've been getting 1 good egg a day for 11 days now and no softies in the poop tray for a week! Went to get the girlies more food today and the stables had no mash of any variety so when I said that mine didn't like pellets the girl suggested I try them on ex bat pellets as they were smaller. So I put some in their treat bowl and they dived on them and started gobbling them up so lets hope it lasts. Amanda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted August 6, 2009 Author Share Posted August 6, 2009 Another "proper" egg from Maisie on Tuesday, nothing for my birthday yesterday , 2 softies from Maisie/Milly today plus a proper egg from Molly . I've ordered some more limestone flour anyway but feel we may have turned a corner . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted August 6, 2009 Share Posted August 6, 2009 That is good news So, did you give any more thought to getting a couple more girls when you were on holiday Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
