okay so I put Storm in with Harley and well they took to each other like ducks to water... Or Budgies in love . Then I noticed that Storm was hanging around the breeding box so I waited a few days and checked and yes there was eggs *insert happy dance* I could not wait so I candled the eggs and joy of joys I had babies! The old guy did it! However the next day I find that she has smashed all the eggs :hap:

 

A few days later another egg arrives, I did not touch this one just confirmed that it is there and then on Sunday night I hear that sound of her smashing it

 

So really not happy, I don't have another hen on eggs at the moment so I can't foster them out. I know that Lemon will sit on eggs so I have put some fake ones in last night with her and she is sitting on them like the pro that she is when I checked today before going to work.

 

My question is should I leave any new eggs with Storm and just not touch the nesting box for a while and hope nature takes over or should I keep checking and if Lemon is still sitting on the fakes take them out and put them under Lemon?

 

This is Storms first time at breeding so maybe she is just getting the hang of things, but as Harley is an older bird I am not sure how many swimmers he has left so don't want to waste any if that makes sense.

 

Advice please.

You know lemon will sit for ever I'd go with the old girl :hap:

Can you put another pair or two down to breed at the same time for fosters ? Never a good idea to only breed one pair at a time becuase of things like this. If you cant put another pair or two down to breed, and you are sure that lemon will sit on eggs and raise babies, try her out.

Thanks guys. I think I will see if Lemon is still sitting and keep and eye out for more eggs. I know that Lemon will sit on anything she is going to be one of those hens that I will foster everything to I think. If she is still sitting on the fakes in a few days and new eggs from Storm have arrived then I will transferr them to her and let her and Lime bring them up.

My spangle hen in the kitchen has eggy bum at the moment AV incase you need back up :hap:

My spangle hen in the kitchen has eggy bum at the moment AV incase you need back up

 

 

Thanks but how do we transfer them from me to you? All I know is I don't think I will use Storm again unless these babies come out really nice and then she will have her eggs taken off her. It's just so fustrating. Rang the breeder and he said that her sister from the same clutch is doing it to GRRRRR Lucky he has other hens to foster to!

Some of my young hens have been doing the same thing of late, one was laying the eggs on the cabinet floor & I picked them up & put them in the nest & she ate them, but after a week or so she settled down & now has two chicks hatched. Others ate their batch after sitting a short time but all laid again & seem to have settled down now. Maybe you could try her with a fake egg or two & if she can’t eat it it may stop her. I know it’s frustrating when you want especially a special bird to breed & you keep wasting time & precious eggs.

is she a first time mum or a young hen, as these are the trait some times ... Missylu had a hen that smashed 3 rounds 4th round was a success

yeah, put some of the fake eggs in with storm and she may learn that she can't smash them. I have a hen that does that. She lays it and as soon as she has she turns around and eats it.

Some of my young hens have been doing the same thing of late, one was laying the eggs on the cabinet floor & I picked them up & put them in the nest & she ate them, but after a week or so she settled down & now has two chicks hatched. Others ate their batch after sitting a short time but all laid again & seem to have settled down now. Maybe you could try her with a fake egg or two & if she can’t eat it it may stop her. I know it’s frustrating when you want especially a special bird to breed & you keep wasting time & precious eggs.

 

I am hoping that if I leave her alone and try to just sort of wait and see then she will settle. If she smashes another then that's it she will have lost her chance and hopefully Lemon will foster the chicks.

 

 

is she a first time mum or a young hen, as these are the trait some times ... Missylu had a hen that smashed 3 rounds 4th round was a success

 

 

Yeah she is a first round hen and only about 2 years old. My big issue is Harley is getting a little long in the tail feathers so not sure who many more round he has left in him!

Kaz has moved them with no problems sitting in an ice cream tub of warm bird seed

 

I'd stick a couple ofm the fakes in too. Let her take it out on them before she lays another real one.

Maybe pair harley to the hen who does sit?

okay you can trim both their tail feathers too, i had a clutch that the eggs kept getting smashed due to them both moving in the nestbox

Maybe pair harley to the hen who does sit?

 

I don't have a proven hen outside of Lemon and she is bonded with lime so bad that she will not even look at another cock. I do need to find Harley a better girlfriend in the long run i think.

 

 

okay you can trim both their tail feathers too, i had a clutch that the eggs kept getting smashed due to them both moving in the nestbox

 

 

Nope she stomps on them! I saw her, but I might try trimming her tail feathers as well to be on the safe side.

 

MB that is a good idea and if we did it in the middle on the night we hit less traffic

 

Going to add a few fake eggs to her box tonight and see if that helps if Lemon is still sitting on the fakes tomorrow then I will transferr them as I see them.