starboyhull Posted July 31, 2007 Share Posted July 31, 2007 Hi guys.....Sorry for the odd subject...... We recently changed from straw in the nest box to hemcore and we have noticed that one of the girls has only laid 1 egg in the past 4 days, today I noticed that she had laid what looked like a perfect egg with a shell but was half eaten in the run, do you think its possible she doesnt like laying on the hemcore????? Previous to this she had laid for 25+ days, they other 2 dont seem hased by it, just wondred what your thoughts are on it...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted July 31, 2007 Share Posted July 31, 2007 It sounds unlikely Karl, but maybe try swapping back to straw for a few days, see if that changes anything. It's probably that she's just going through a bit of a rest phase and that has coincided with the change. They seem to lay soft or thin shelled eggs in the run or on the bars - somehow they know it's different. If it was thin shelled it maybe broke on impact. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
starboyhull Posted July 31, 2007 Author Share Posted July 31, 2007 I have put straw back in tonight, so see what she is like tomorrow...... I hope its just a phase as the hemcore is so much better than straw...... I just wondered if it could have put her off, if she didnt like the hemcore??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted August 1, 2007 Share Posted August 1, 2007 Maybe you could put a bit of straw on top of the Hemcore and then gradually reduce the amount each time and hopefully they won't notice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura & CTB Posted August 1, 2007 Share Posted August 1, 2007 I always use hemcore in the nest box with a sprinkling of straw on top (just for show ) - the girls like to rearrange it when they're laying. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
starboyhull Posted August 1, 2007 Author Share Posted August 1, 2007 Two perfect eggs today, still waiting for Betty to lay, but Hilda was fine this morning, I think I will slowly add more and more hemcore each week until she gets used to it, maybe the citronella in it or something irritates her..... A chicken with sensitive skin, whatever next Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted August 1, 2007 Share Posted August 1, 2007 Let us know how she goes Karl.. mine lay on Hemcore and are fine. The problem with straw is that while it can look dry on the top layer, the underneath is often soggy, so straw on top on hemcore is a good idea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
starboyhull Posted August 1, 2007 Author Share Posted August 1, 2007 Thats why I changed to hemcore as the straw in the nestbox after a day or so with the wet weather was, ermmmm, lets just say not very nice I will keep you posted on how she gets on anyway.......Thanks for your thoughts on it..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted August 1, 2007 Share Posted August 1, 2007 we use hemcore in the run and poo tray but not in the nest box. I put wood shavings and a topping of straw in the nest box. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beach chick Posted August 2, 2007 Share Posted August 2, 2007 I just put wood shavings in the nest box & poo tray - when I put straw, they just chucked it everywhere! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
