johnandkymberley Posted June 3, 2011 Share Posted June 3, 2011 (edited) Hi, i have noticed Lily following other hens into the cube (when she has already laid, i know this for certain) on 2 occasions today i have had suspicions. firstly blossom was in there, who lays soft eggs quite often, lily was watching and waiting for her to move, as soon as she did move though i was in there cleaning it out so lily didnt have a chance really but put up a good fight. Second petal was in there and i watched lily follow her in, afterwards found the whole egg gone, no yolk, shell or anything, just a patch of where it had been. Could Lily have broken it on purpose? Petal never has anything wrong with her laying. Does anyone have any advice? im quite worried as it seems to be increasing but she is the only one who seems interested, almost after every hen has laid she starts barking - like she does with her own egg, is this a sign of it too? she has been broody last month but hasnt been doing that for at least 2 weeks, it just seems she is always in the nesting box!!! Edited June 4, 2011 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted June 3, 2011 Share Posted June 3, 2011 Well the signs are - er, no eggs! Or broken empty eggshells and guilty-looking hens with egg on their beaks! Once they get a taste for it, it can be hard to stop and if you have one laying softies then they will scoff them up. Speedy collection of eggs will help, or you could consider a roll-away nestbox, if you search there's a thread Egluntyne posted about them. Stopping them - some people report that an egg-shell filled with mustard or chilli sauce is effective, others put china eggs in to fool them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnandkymberley Posted June 3, 2011 Author Share Posted June 3, 2011 Hi, do you have a link for the thread? thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purplemaniacs Posted June 4, 2011 Share Posted June 4, 2011 Try this http://club.omlet.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=74902 I hope it works Chrissie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnandkymberley Posted June 4, 2011 Author Share Posted June 4, 2011 Thanks, i think i have a problem...loved the idea of the roll away nest box, went outside with OH to double check where to put it etc and our cube is already on a slant! meaning the roll away egg box will be counteracted (if that makes sense and is spelt right!) so all my eggs roll to the left side of the nesting box, i just thought they prefered that side! so anything i can cover it up with or something so they cant get into peck the? i have got the little it of square mesh from the eglu, that might be an idea? if i put it so the eggs can just roll under it but the hens cant get underneath? or similar thought? does anyone think this is a good idea or am i rambling!!! lol xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnandkymberley Posted June 4, 2011 Author Share Posted June 4, 2011 hi all, have changed the name of this thread as i wanted to share my invention! i am soooo proud of myself! basically we cannot afford £25 for a roll away nesting box, and i dont want to move the girls laying place. So stood outside (girls at my feet) looking in the shed (just looking not moving!) and a lightbulb came on! i got the small eglu roosting bar, i have 2 sets of wooden anyway so i dont NEED it, and even if the eglu comes out then we still have roosting bars for it. I have put it in- its an almost perfect fit, i have added a tiny wedge of wood, as knowing my girls they will want to investigate and stand on it, so it had to hold their weight. There is enough room for 2 hens to lay at a time and the eggs to roll under and lily cant get under!!! although she did have a try, i put the roosting bars upside down so the bars are facing the bottom to make it harder for them to get the eggs! I waited all morning for one of them to lay an egg! in the end i gave up and went to have a scrummy boiled egg, and 20 minutes later i check and there were three under there, untouched and perfectly clean! i think omlet should make a "egg cover" out of plastic? is that possible?! xxx p.s will take pics if people want to see xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnandkymberley Posted June 6, 2011 Author Share Posted June 6, 2011 Here are some pics that people wanted to see, the only thing i have realised this morning is they are still eating soft eggs, which i thought were a thing of the past so looks like ill have to look into them eating more grit! xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnandkymberley Posted June 6, 2011 Author Share Posted June 6, 2011 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnandkymberley Posted June 6, 2011 Author Share Posted June 6, 2011 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surfer_chicken Posted June 8, 2011 Share Posted June 8, 2011 Ooh, very clever! I'm guessing the is titled lightly towards the bars so they roll under? Also, what breed lay the white eggs? They look lovely Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnandkymberley Posted June 9, 2011 Author Share Posted June 9, 2011 Hi, yes it is a little tilted but havent had an egg that hasnt rolled under yet!! also when they climb in and out there bound to knock an egg or something arent they?! The white eggs are laid by white stars, there are hybrid variations of a white star but i would deffo go for a pure breed. They are fantastic, yes they are a little skittish but with love and attention they are a fantastic bird, the best layers of eggs are described as looking like perfect china/porcelain and a good quantity too, mine lay a tasty white egg every morning without fail (and lets admit it white eggs are soo special!) and have recently at chicken shows been described as little ballerinas because of there dainty and perfect physique, they are super and i wouldnt be without mine! they are very special to me, what hens do you have? xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Posted June 9, 2011 Share Posted June 9, 2011 What a good idea! Lucky your garden is on a slope, or is it the cube that slopes? Saves paying money for a rollaway nest box!! Well done Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surfer_chicken Posted June 10, 2011 Share Posted June 10, 2011 At the moment I only have two, an amber star and a cuckoo maran. I have a very serious case of morehens and I would love some pure breeds, but unfortunately I can't treat it as I'm not in charge (still living with the parents). To make up for it I've just got a very long wishlist (buff orpingtons, wyandottes(blue laced!), bearded silkes... etc.) and now some white stars! Believe me, my OH is not looking forward to getting our own place as much I am. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnandkymberley Posted June 10, 2011 Author Share Posted June 10, 2011 lol surfer_chicken - your just like the rest of us!! lol ive posted some pics of my white stars for you, this is Willow and Lily.... and i LOVE it when they curl there head in there wing and they look like breathing pebbles! but i havent got any pics of that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
