I have put down an 16 month old hen with a 2 year old proven cock. It is the hen's first clutch. She laid her first egg on the floor of the breeding cage on Thursday, it was cracked and the cock was all flustered trying to move it, so I put it in the nest box to show her that's where it should be. When I went out about an hour later she had smashed it all up in the nest box. Today she laid her second on the floor of the cage and again smashed it.

 

My questions are: Will she always smash her eggs?

 

Do I remove her from the breeding cage and put her in a seperate cage or do I put her back into the avairy?

Does she go in the nest box at all? I would put a couple of fake eggs in the box so that she won't be able to break them before it becomes too much of a habit, also as long as she hasn't sat on them you can take the real eggs out for up to a week and store them until she seems to be settled on the fakes and then add them in..

I had an egg smasher once, when i was really young and i dont really remember what i did to stop her, but she did.

 

Perhaps give her a fake egg so she can not smash it and will get the idea that she is meant to sit on them, not smash them. **Snap MB **

 

She might just get over it in an egg or two - she might be just exploring the funny white things that have popped out her butt .

 

I can be a symptom of a vitamin deficiency. does she get calcium??

Edited July 12, 200816 yr by **Liv**

I did put a fake egg in with the first cracked egg that she smashed, she has thrown that out of the nest box also. She spends some time in the nest box, not a lot.

 

Calcium - She has calcivet in the water, fresh vegies daily and breeding aid in the seed.

 

I thought maybe I would return her to the avairy and try her again in 6 months??

Myabe try her again later, she may just not be ready emotiona;ly. Better to stop her now rather than letting her get into a habit that could last forever.

Yes, I agree.... hopefully next time she will be more interested.

What was most upsetting was that it was the pair I was most excited about breeding Always the way

What was most upsetting was that it was the pair I was most excited about breeding Always the way

 

It's always the way! The one that holds the most promise let's you down.

 

I don't believe egg smashing or eating is due to any nutritional issue. I feel it is sometimes a lack of maturity, or a over zealous hen that throws everything out of the nest box. Trouble is once they have started this annoying habit it usually continues.

 

Myself, when putting hens down, place a handful of wood shavings in the nest box. As do many people.

 

( ANOTHER TRADE SECRET )

But what people don't do is over the next week or so observe the hen to see how she sets up her nest. Hens that throw a bit of wood shavings out and settle should be fine. But hens that throw every scrap of wood shavings out of the nest and still scratch around. I make a mental note to watch, as they may be egg throwers and I will need to transfer the eggs as they are layed.

Once again,

 

Observation is

 

Goodluck

I had the exact same thing with one of my first times hens, she laid the first few eggs on the floor & I placed them in the nest & she smashed them. But after a few eggs she settled down & hatched a couple of chicks, which she is looking after well. So it might be just temporary.