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Barnyard Buddies:  Chicken Problems  |
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farmgirlkate
True Blue Farmgirl
167 Posts
kate
bryan
TX
USA
167 Posts |
 Posted - Jun 28 2008 : 6:08:06 PM
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Hi ladies-I'm not sure if this is the right spot for it, but I have a question regarding my chickens. I recently relocated them from an ark to a stationary coop and they have started eating their eggs!  How do I stop this? Any suggestions?
~kate
"You only have what you give..."" |
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willowtreecreek
True Blue Farmgirl
4813 Posts
Julie
Russell
AR
USA
4813 Posts |
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shepherdgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
1008 Posts
Tracy
California
USA
1008 Posts |
Posted - Jun 28 2008 : 8:26:02 PM
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Are ALL of your hens eating the eggs? If so, it might be caused by a "Dietary" issue. You might need to add more calcium in the form of oyster shells specifically for chickens. Also, chickens get bored just like WE DO! You could try twice daily feeding (but only as much is they will actually eat at each feeding) and maybe even sprinkling scratch around their yard to give them something to do throughtout the day.
And like Julie said-- collecting the eggs several times a day should help tremendously too. Other than that, there really isn't much else to be done with egg eating hens once they start, except culling them from the flock before they get the others following suit. Chickens learn the worst habits from each other!! Good luck!
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. ~~ George Carlin |
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thegoatlady84
Farmgirl in Training
10 Posts
Robyn
Breton
Alberta
Canada
10 Posts |
Posted - Jun 30 2008 : 08:29:49 AM
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Make your nest boxes very dark inside! They wont eat what they cant see. My hen were eating their eggs and I made the nest boxes so that they were very dark by putting a cloth "cat door" on the front that the hens have to pus through. They have not eaten a single egg since.
Rock'n M Dairy stock |
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Annab
True Blue Farmgirl
2900 Posts
Anna
Seagrove
NC
USA
2900 Posts |
Posted - Jul 01 2008 : 03:19:42 AM
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| You can find bags of oyster shells at most feed stores |
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Annab
True Blue Farmgirl
2900 Posts
Anna
Seagrove
NC
USA
2900 Posts |
Posted - Jul 01 2008 : 03:21:19 AM
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That is crushed oyster shells sorry
Ours come in 50 pounds
We offer these free choice in a dish by the feed or in a pile somewhere close to the coop outside |
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farmgirlkate
True Blue Farmgirl
167 Posts
kate
bryan
TX
USA
167 Posts |
Posted - Jul 01 2008 : 05:24:37 AM
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Thank you to everyone. They do have a varied diet and get enough including oyster shell, so I suspect one of them (I think it's Agnes-she's always the ringleader) has just started doing it (probably out of spite). I am going to make the nest boxes darker, but I'm also going to yank Agnes out and see if happens again.
I had thought of the boredom thing, but it's hard to think of something to do to keep chickens entertained...hire a clown? give them a tv? do they even make little chicken swing sets? **sigh**
~kate
"You only have what you give...""
www.xanga.com/k8tthelate |
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eskimobirdlady
True Blue Farmgirl
700 Posts
connie
fairbanks
ak
USA
700 Posts |
Posted - Jul 02 2008 : 4:59:03 PM
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| lmao kate that mental picture is too funny! do they have plenty of space for outside so they can amuse themselves eatging bugs and eating grasses? i have always heard that once they start eating eggs they wont stop but i have a pair of cockatiels who will eat their eggs after sitting a while if they arent viable. yet they only do this after weeks of sitting. they ahve successfullly hatched 2 babies and havent eaten an egg since. good luck and keep us posted ok? peace connie in alaska |
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farmgirlkate
True Blue Farmgirl
167 Posts
kate
bryan
TX
USA
167 Posts |
Posted - Jul 02 2008 : 5:20:48 PM
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Well, I hauled Agnes out (that freeloading featherduster) and made the nest boxes darker. So far so good...the eggs have been intact. Meanwhile Agnes is pouting in a cage and has yet to do anything except throw a temper tantrum befitting a two year old when I put her in there. I will give it one more day and see how things go, then try and reintroduce her back to the flock. If that fails, I may hang a picture of Col Sanders up in the coop. I have really come to admire that man lately.
Ladies, thank you all so much. I'll keep you posted.
Good luck with you cockatiels Connie!
~kate
"You only have what you give...""
www.xanga.com/k8tthelate |
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eskimobirdlady
True Blue Farmgirl
700 Posts
connie
fairbanks
ak
USA
700 Posts |
Posted - Jul 02 2008 : 6:36:53 PM
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thanks kate. i really do not want them to breed anymore! the first oen has terribly played legs and the second committed hari- cari by flying into a window! i already have 9 parrots in this tiny cabin so dont need anymroe! i just cannot bring myself to take the eggs out cuz then she just lays more and that is so hard on her.
the picture of col. sanders just might work! *wink*
peace connie in alaska |
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yasmine
True Blue Farmgirl
173 Posts
yasmine
wappingers falls
ny
USA
173 Posts |
Posted - Jul 20 2008 : 5:14:12 PM
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I would suggest more
calcium.
Justice |
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RoseRed
Farmgirl in Training
19 Posts
Karen
Virginia
USA
19 Posts |
Posted - Jul 20 2008 : 6:40:46 PM
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Sounds like you've got it under control! When our girls do this, we add a darning egg to their laying box. It's no fun to peck at, apparently, and soon they get out of the habit.
RoseRed |
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farmgirlkate
True Blue Farmgirl
167 Posts
kate
bryan
TX
USA
167 Posts |
Posted - Jul 20 2008 : 6:50:42 PM
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I am happy to report that all is well in the coop now. Between darkening the boxes, hanging a picture of the col. on the wall and giving agnes a good whatfor, things have straightened out. Karen, I did also add a darning egg-I think that helped too.. yasmine, thank you-but they have access to calcium-I think this was more a bad habit that got started out of being put back in the coop. There is nothing worse than a spiteful chicken I tell you.
Thank you all!
kate
"You only have what you give...""
www.xanga.com/k8tthelate |
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RoseRed
Farmgirl in Training
19 Posts
Karen
Virginia
USA
19 Posts |
Posted - Jul 21 2008 : 6:18:08 PM
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| Oh, I don't know...I think a *wet* spiteful chicken may be the worst :). Glad it's working out and your girls are being more agreeable! |
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deeredawn
True Blue Farmgirl
2306 Posts
Dawn
Cordova
TN
USA
2306 Posts |
Posted - Jul 22 2008 : 12:08:34 PM
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Hey! Try this: a handful of dry cat food. Seriously, I work at a hatcheryt and we suggest that all the time for birds that are eating eggs. Its a protein thing (AND a boredom thing). Crushed oyster shell is good but if they aren't stopping, try the cat food. Also, instead of clowns :o) try cat toys. Anything shiny and jingley they will love playing with. Try a mesh potato bag hung from the ceiling with a large cup hook and a half head of cabbage in it. They will be forever pecking at that! I am surrounded by chickens 24/7. Let me know how this all works! I think I also posted more chicken info somewhere else in here, but cant remember where!!!
harvest farm & market web site coming soon |
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farmgirlkate
True Blue Farmgirl
167 Posts
kate
bryan
TX
USA
167 Posts |
Posted - Jul 22 2008 : 12:20:46 PM
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THAT'S IT!! CHICKEN TOYS!!
They need toys, but I had no idea what to do. Dawn, you are freakin brilliant!! You're my new best friend, I pinky swear!
~kate
"You only have what you give...""
www.xanga.com/k8tthelate |
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deeredawn
True Blue Farmgirl
2306 Posts
Dawn
Cordova
TN
USA
2306 Posts |
Posted - Jul 22 2008 : 5:44:31 PM
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hahahaha! Good for you! Best thing is...you can get a whoollle bunch of 'em at the dollar store!
harvest farm & market web site coming soon |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
Posted - Jul 22 2008 : 6:32:12 PM
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I love the idea of cat toys! I can just imagine chickens running around with jingly cat toys!
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.awarmheart.com
Please come visit Nora and me on our new blog:
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com |
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therealshari
True Blue Farmgirl
235 Posts
Shari
Beryl
UT
USA
235 Posts |
Posted - Jul 25 2008 : 11:05:04 AM
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Our chicken pen is littered with old containers, corn cobs, old bones, etc. Bugs land on them, and bingo... chicken treats!
We have a special place in the covered fence where we feed the "daily refuse". All I do is softly call "chickie-birds", and those gals come running. Bread products are their favorites, followed by corn of any kind. They'll eat their veggies, but not until they've search for any bits of cooked meat or gravy... the little hogs!
Our gals are so busy chasing around to see what's next for food, they barely have time to get in the box, lay their egg and head back outside.
We supplement with 16% layer mash (fed dry) once a day.
Shari Thomas
Got lambs? Got fleece? We do, and you can too! Check our our new "Fleece For Sale" page. |
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yasmine
True Blue Farmgirl
173 Posts
yasmine
wappingers falls
ny
USA
173 Posts |
Posted - Jul 25 2008 : 12:06:11 PM
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I would suggest oyster shells they probly need
more calcium
Yasmine and Justice |
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chickabella
True Blue Farmgirl
177 Posts
D. A.
Austin... ish,
Texas
177 Posts |
Posted - Jul 26 2008 : 8:45:45 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by deeredawn
Also, instead of clowns :o) try cat toys. Anything shiny and jingley they will love playing with. Try a mesh potato bag hung from the ceiling with a large cup hook and a half head of cabbage in it. They will be forever pecking at that!
I love the idea of cabbage in a mesh bag! As far as toys go, our geese love anything that dangles. Here's a pic of our last batch of goslings having a go at a dog chew toy:
 Farm blog: http://farmnatters.blogspot.com
Tips blog: http://allingoodhealth.blogspot.com
Heart of Texas Farmgirls Chapter: www.maryjanesfarm.org/HenHouseSnitz/default.asp?CAT_ID=46 |
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Barnyard Buddies: Chicken Problems |
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Chicken Problems
