I have got 1 hen who I started in a breeding cage. I found 1 egg on the floor of the breeding cage, I thought maybe she had gotten it stuck to her feathers so I placed it in the nest. Went in later and it was smashed. 2 days later I went in and she had laid another egg on the floor of the cage so this time I left it where it was, she laid 1 more then started to sit on them but then left them 3 days later and they went cold so I placed them under another hen and 1 did hatch the other dead in shell. So now I have placed her in an outside aviary and she has been in and out of a log nest. I noticed 2 days ago that their was a smashed egg on the floor but as there were other birds in there I wasn't sure who had laid it. This morning I noticed both hens were showing interest in the same nest (but not fighting) so I removed the other pair to another cage......and then when I went back out just before dark she had an egg smashed on the ground so I am guessing she was just laying them of the perch...but why??? she has been really keen on the nests but just wont lay in any nest whether it is in an aviary or a breeding cage.......what do I do about it??

I have got 1 hen who I started in a breeding cage. I found 1 egg on the floor of the breeding cage, I thought maybe she had gotten it stuck to her feathers so I placed it in the nest. Went in later and it was smashed. 2 days later I went in and she had laid another egg on the floor of the cage so this time I left it where it was, she laid 1 more then started to sit on them but then left them 3 days later and they went cold so I placed them under another hen and 1 did hatch the other dead in shell. So now I have placed her in an outside aviary and she has been in and out of a log nest. I noticed 2 days ago that their was a smashed egg on the floor but as there were other birds in there I wasn't sure who had laid it. This morning I noticed both hens were showing interest in the same nest (but not fighting) so I removed the other pair to another cage......and then when I went back out just before dark she had an egg smashed on the ground so I am guessing she was just laying them of the perch...but why??? she has been really keen on the nests but just wont lay in any nest whether it is in an aviary or a breeding cage.......what do I do about it??

 

okay so today I go out and finally we have an egg in the nest *fingers crossed* that it stays there now that I have moved the other hen!!

Good luck

Good luck

 

Thanks Kaz.....Hopefully now that she is on her own and has actually laid an egg in the nest she will keep laying and keep sitting on them and not let them go cold this time *touch wood*

yep sometimes there can be some hens who just dont want to follow the rules of nesting im glad this rebble is learning the rules now xx good luck hun

yep sometimes there can be some hens who just dont want to follow the rules of nesting im glad this rebble is learning the rules now :bliss: xx good luck hun

 

Well clearly this hen just doesn't want to follow the rules as I went out today and found the egg on the ground smashed ....so not sure what to do she is in by herself so I didn't think I would have a problem now but clearly that's not the case. If she lays like she is meant to tomorrow I am going to take the egg from her and place under another hen. What do I do???? I have tried everything but it just doesn't help at all!!! PLEASE someone

have you tried putting a nest box on the ground? other then that I don't know what else you can do. Is she a first time mum?

have you tried putting a nest box on the ground? other then that I don't know what else you can do. Is she a first time mum?

:happy-dancing:

 

Not sure if she is a first time mum or not she came with one of the cages, I have tried everything. She laid an egg this afternoon but I wasn't taking the chance I took it from her as soon as I found it and placed it under another hen :ohmygod:

I think the hen is immature...I dont mean by that actual age but she is too silly right now to be breeding her. I personally would retire her for 6 months and try again later.

I think the hen is immature...I dont mean by that actual age but she is too silly right now to be breeding her. I personally would retire her for 6 months and try again later.

 

Thanks Kaz, I will do that. I have had her for 3 months now and she has been paired up with this partner for the same amount of time so not sure what her prob is. She is just in a aviary with her and her partner, so do you recommend I take her from her partner or just remove the nest?

Firstly remove her to a cage to rest her and stop the egglaying cycle. Remove the nest, and put her back in the aviary in a fortnight or so.

The hen has been in a cage without a nest for a while now but I am going to leave her a bit longer. She laid one egg after I took the nest out but then has laid no more since so I am assuming the egg laying cycle has been broken. Another week and I will introduce the nest again and see how we go in the next few weeks :rofl: . If she does the same thing again I think she will be moved to the for sale cage.....

I would give her a holiday and time to mature rather than try her breeding again so soon.

Edited October 7, 200915 yr by KAZ

I would give her a holiday and time to mature rather than try her breeding again so soon.

 

okay, if you think that is the best thing to do, then that's what I will do. As she is quite a nice hen and I don't really want to sell her. So a holiday it is for her

some hens, no matter what the age, will continue to lay off the perch. A breeder we visited recently has one who always does it. Its almost like the hen thinks the egg is a poop rather than an egg (hens don't poop in the box)

 

The breeder used a deep container under the perch filled with wood shavings to catch the eggs, and then she moves them into the nest box when the hen will sit on them.