flutterby Posted September 20, 2010 Share Posted September 20, 2010 today I found 2 soft shelled eggs and 1 broken thin shelled egg under the roosting bars of my cube. when I cleaned out on Saturday there were a couple of soft shelled eggs remains in the same place. a couple of weeks ago we had a couple of soft shelled eggs - one in run and the other in nesting box. I'm pretty sure they're from my 3 Light Sussex - had from 4 weeks old on 16th May so they're about 22 weeks old now. Been looking through post to find suggestions of how to deal with this - they have plenty of grit available - they have a mixture of corn and pellets (the others lay much better on corn!) - straw or other cushioning wouldn't have made any difference to the breakages. I'm not so worried about the soft eggs as that'll hopefully sort itself out. The question is how do i get them to lay in the box? Perhaps there isn't enough nest-box area per hen? I have 8 in the cube (when the broody moves back) and theres the duck house available as well ..........ducks not laying in there but thats another story, and I've come to a comprise with them!! Suggestions anyone????? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chicken bark Posted September 21, 2010 Share Posted September 21, 2010 You could try putting an egg or a fake egg or two in the nesting area. I wonder if yours are like mine though and 'laying' their softies during the night? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flutterby Posted September 21, 2010 Author Share Posted September 21, 2010 thank you Chicken Bark - Hadn't thought they might do it at night......no softies today, or in wrong place. I've a couple of bouncy eggs - that'll confuse my dad tomorrow!! Had 4/7 laying today... think one is from a LS as its a different colour to the normal production! Its also come to that time of year when production drops (would be really nice to go down one day and find 8 hen and 3 duck eggs just once ) so will make it difficult to pin point whose laid with the exception of two cos one lays white and the other brown. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules. Posted September 21, 2010 Share Posted September 21, 2010 I still get occasional softies laid, & they are always in the poo tray. I think the hen knows when she will lay a softy & lays it anywhere but the nest box. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
