Omlet cube and run

[Isabel]

I'm working on the assumption that it's one of the girls and hope to heavens it isn't a rodent. Haven't been able to catch anyone in the act. The eggs are broken, shells gone and yolks left (whites too I presume but they would be absorbed by the bedding). Any suggestions as to what I can do please? I was up and down to the henhouse like a yoyo today trying to rescue an egg before it was broken but no joy. We've three hens and this time last year I was overcome with eggs ..... this year, I haven't had one in days.

 

Thanks

 

Isabel

 

 

Updating! We think it is magpies taking the eggs. We've never had magpies hovering around the henhouse before but this last few weeks, they never leave that area. Neither of us have seen them going in our out of house but they're there all day, eating the hen's food etc. I cleaned and sprayed the house today and there was evidence of a few yolks but no shells but no evidence of rats which was my main fear.

 

So, question is, are the magpies the likely culprits and, if so, how the heck do we get rid of them?

 

Thanks

 

Isabel

Edited July 3, 2011 by Guest

[Forestchook]

Just eating/taking the egg shell? I'm no expert but that seems quite strange. Most creatures are after whats inside the egg! It sounds to me more like the eggs are softies ?

N

[Sam]

My guess is that they are laying softies and just eating the membrane, which is completely normal. I'd give them some extra grit. What I do is make porridge with water and throw some in grit and mealworms in and mix it all up. It's always worked for me.

[Isabel]

But could all three be laying sorties simultaneously? Shall top up the grit - haven't paid it much attention recently as they fr and have access to quite a stoney area. Oh, DH has just told me that on his watch there are usually broken shells ... he has been doing more with them than I have recently so his description is more accurate than mine.

 

If that rules out softies, does it mean we have a pecking hen (if so, is there any answer?) or a rat (ugh, can hardly bear to type the word!!!)

 

Thanks

[Sam]

Hmm never experienced that myself, but some people on the forum use rollaway nest boxes so that the eggs are not in sight, so obviously can't be pecked and eaten. Some people fill eggs with mustard/chilli, but this method doesn't always work.

[Egluntyne]

A roll away nest box may help I've had success with these. It seems odd, though, that the yolks are being left. If you have an egg eater in your flock, they usually eat the contents, and leave some, if not most of the shell behind.

 

A few pot eggs in the nest might help if the culprit is one of your own hens, as they give up entirely because there is no reward and it must be a bit painful to bash their beaks on a hard object.

[Chucky Mama]

Not sure what is going on but if you are adding grit to try and help with shell quality you need to make sure it is soluble grit - insoluble grit helps with grinding food in the crop

[Henchanted]

Since you seem to have the dietary angle covered ie good mixed grit (flint AND oyster shell), good pellets, not too many treats, access to lots of greens/grass/leaves and access to sunshine (hens need sun too) as well as shade, and they have been wormed recently, and its happening to all three, then its pointing in the direction of an infection.

 

Quite a few illnesses/diseases can affect the production of eggs, its worth checking for other symtoms,

 

I would consider that If they are not showing any other signs of ill health it may be something like the virus that causes EDS (egg drop syndrome). This virus can be brought in on footwear from anywhere with waterfowl (most common in ducks) or from wild birds droppings. There is no treatment from what I can find, it takes between 2-8 weeks to run its course (like flu) and it affects the hens oviducts to different degrees. So they will produce anything from no eggs, to softies, to co"Ooops, word censored!" hard shelled eggs with "Ooops, word censored!"bly bits and/or loss of pigment. It is easily spread from one hen to the flock and affects the laying capabilities during the infection and afterwards though there is a reasonable degree of recovery. Its worth reading around, there is quite a lot on the internet.

 

I believe mine have had this so that is why I'm interested. They are laying again every day now though rarely perfect eggs. They can often have a co"Ooops, word censored!" shell, sometimes bits of extras shell ("Ooops, word censored!"bles), thin one end thick the other, darker one end and lighter the other etc.

 

Good luck

[Sam]

Not sure what is going on but if you are adding grit to try and help with shell quality you need to make sure it is soluble grit - insoluble grit helps with grinding food in the crop

 

 

Must be just coincidence then!

I feel silly now haha

[Chucky Mama]

Check what's in your grit, it may be a combination of both. Or, your porridge may be making a difference

[Isabel]

Thanks everyone ... Still a mystery but shall check out all suggestions.

[Mum]

I'....

 

Updating! ....

 

So, question is, are the magpies the likely culprits and, if so, how the heck do we get rid of them?

Yes, it could be the magpies. As to how to get rid of them, I have no idea (short of shooting them, but I don't think that is allowed )

[Egluntyne]

Didn't spot the bit about magpies as you had added it to your original post.

 

Very likely, I'd say. You could hang flappy whizzy things like the wind socks that people use on camp sites, to try to scare them away, as they don't like the movement.

 

Some sort of roll away nest box would certainly help, if you can rig one up.