One of my hens in the breeding cage laid her first egg today off the perch. It had a hairline crack in it so I gave it a shake so it wouldn't start to grow and put it in the nest box in the hopes that she would get the idea for the next one, did I do the right thng there?

Sounds right to me.... She should get the idea that they are meant to go in the box pretty soon

Throw it away......as it is cracked it will in all likelihood break open and stick to the feathers on her chest...next time you see her she will be carrying the remains of the egg around. Also if it breaks they are tempted to eat the egg and that would teach her lessons about eggs she doesnt need to start doing. Might have just been a timing error on her part. Some silly hens I have who wont use the nestbox DO use the nestbox when I put a whole spray of millet in there at the stage they are about to lay the next egg

Edited August 4, 200816 yr by KAZ

I did think about boiling it first The millet is a good idea. She is sitting in the nest box, maybe she just ddn't get the idea since this is her first egg ever.

One of my hens in the breeding cage laid her first egg today off the perch. It had a hairline crack in it so I gave it a shake so it wouldn't start to grow and put it in the nest box in the hopes that she would get the idea for the next one, did I do the right thng there?

 

 

I had a hen like that recently, ending up laying 3 off the perch and then smashed them all and ate them after I put them in the nest box.

One of my hens in the breeding cage laid her first egg today off the perch. It had a hairline crack in it so I gave it a shake so it wouldn't start to grow and put it in the nest box in the hopes that she would get the idea for the next one, did I do the right thng there?

 

 

I had a hen like that recently, ending up laying 3 off the perch and then smashed them all and ate them after I put them in the nest box.

They will eat a broken or cracked egg and that is a habit no bird should learn

Yes Toss it MB, It will stink too or leak and cause issues in the nest box ....