Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[Goldie]

Hi guys, I'm having a few troubles with 1 particular hen who is constantly laying paper thin shells.

 

She is an older hybrid, has laid (without any break!) for 3 years so far. Think it's taking its toll on her and every day we have a broken egg.

 

The eggs are hard rather than being laid all jelly-like without a shell, but as they fall to the floor they break at the end, which means the girls immediately gobble up a nice treat! They've now got a taste for the eggs and all follow her in to the nest box awaiting their tasty treat

 

They have layers pellets, extra mixed grit with oyster shell availiable, and no others have problems.

 

So what can I do for her? One day I'm afraid it will break inside her

 

Thanks, Goldie

[Beantree]

I think you may have no option but to pts Goldie, because if the others start eating good eggs you may have to pts them all because egg eating is an extremely difficult habit to break. She must be at the end of her laying life and I doubt extra minerals will help. Important to maintain the Calcium/ Phosphorous ratio so giving just extra Calcium could worsen the condition. However we have used Nettex mineral powder with some success in the past as it contains both extra Calcium and the extra Phosphorous.

[Goldie]

Thanks for your reply, I will look into the Nettex.

You are probably right that she is at the end of her laying, but as she is the friendliest hen I would be loathe to kill her when she is still producing eggs (albeit cracked!) and very happy with her free range life. All of the hens are not breaking the shells of the good eggs, just exploiting the one hen who does lay the tasty goods!

We have created a roll-away nest box, hopefully even though broken, they will roll beyond reach. She didn't lay today (one of her very few days off), so will report back tomorrow if it worked!

[chickenlover12]

Thanks for your reply, I will look into the Nettex.

You are probably right that she is at the end of her laying, but as she is the friendliest hen I would be loathe to kill her when she is still producing eggs (albeit cracked!) and very happy with her free range life. All of the hens are not breaking the shells of the good eggs, just exploiting the one hen who does lay the tasty goods!

We have created a roll-away nest box, hopefully even though broken, they will roll beyond reach. She didn't lay today (one of her very few days off), so will report back tomorrow if it worked!

 

To stop her getting at the eggs, do you know roughly when the lay their eggs? Perhaps you can collect the eggs earlier, because leaving them in the nesting box will keep encouraging her to peck at them... I know you have a roll-away nest box, just wondering how they are still getting to the eggs then!?