okay so now I am really beginning to get peeved in the last week I have thrown out 2 sets of eggs, which were all fertile. It seemed that they had died early on and dried up but you could clearly see that they were fertile. I have just been out in the aviary and thrown out 6 more eggs same problem all fertile but had died early on and dried up. My question is could my cats be the problem? Is it possible that my cats are jumping up on the wire late at night and scaring the hens out while they are in sleep mode and they are not getting back on the eggs so they go cold and die???? I have seen the cat sitting at the base of the aviary some mornings when I get up but have never actually seen them jump on the wire. The only reason I say this is that the hens are barely off the nest at all during the day so this is the only thing I can think of that would be happening and going on un-noticed because its happening at night and by the time I get up the hens are back on the eggs, but unfortunatly they will have already died due to getting cold during the night. This may not be the reason for what is happening but I can't think of any other reason why the eggs would all do this....if you have any ideas as to what is happening or what I can do to prevent it plz dont hesitate to tell me......I am at my wits end :angel:

There are a lot of reasons for dead in shell chicks in eggs. New Mums who dont keep them incubated, diseasdes that cause the growing chick to die, disturbances like cats or mice. Many things.

Re the cats. I have four cats but mine are all in at night as I feel thats my responsibility as a cat owner to have them all brought in at dusk and it stops issues with neighbours and cat fights at night between ours and others as can happen. Any reason why your cats cannot be brought in at night ?

Edited October 14, 200915 yr by KAZ

okay so now I am really beginning to get peeved in the last week I have thrown out 2 sets of eggs, which were all fertile. It seemed that they had died early on and dried up but you could clearly see that they were fertile. I have just been out in the aviary and thrown out 6 more eggs same problem all fertile but had died early on and dried up. My question is could my cats be the problem? Is it possible that my cats are jumping up on the wire late at night and scaring the hens out while they are in sleep mode and they are not getting back on the eggs so they go cold and die???? I have seen the cat sitting at the base of the aviary some mornings when I get up but have never actually seen them jump on the wire. The only reason I say this is that the hens are barely off the nest at all during the day so this is the only thing I can think of that would be happening and going on un-noticed because its happening at night and by the time I get up the hens are back on the eggs, but unfortunatly they will have already died due to getting cold during the night. This may not be the reason for what is happening but I can't think of any other reason why the eggs would all do this....if you have any ideas as to what is happening or what I can do to prevent it plz dont hesitate to tell me......I am at my wits end :angel:

Hi Tonilee, I also wondered what caused d.i.shell chicks I had one hen lay 9 eggs, waited well past when first were due, she finally hatched 3 from 9. She was, I think first time mum and very scatty , she would fly off eggs kicking them around etc. every time I went in aviary. Mine were probably half formed when I checked them but all fertile. Even when she had chicks ready to leave nest she would hide under them. Maybe it's first time Mum's they may settle down with next batch. Fingers crossed anyway.

There are a lot of reasons for dead in shell chicks in eggs. New Mums who dont keep them incubated, diseasdes that cause the growing chick to die, disturbances like cats or mice. Many things.Re the cats. I have four cats but mine are all in at night as I feel thats my responsibility as a cat owner to have them all brought in at dusk and it stops issues with neighbours and cat fights at night between ours and others as can happen. Any reason why your cats cannot be brought in at night ?

Yes they can be bought in at night, after today's discovery I had decided to do this 1 of the hens that had the bad eggs has had babies before and the other I am unsure but she looks like a mature bird, this is her first lot of eggs for me...the only time the hens ever come of the nest that I can tell is when I go in the aviary. The hens I have in the breeding cages are fine they are hatching babies okay just the ones in the aviaries......I have 3 different hens in 3 different aviaries if its a disease whats the chances of it being in all 3 aviaries????. I have hens sitting on good eggs in the same aviaries :hap: This is soooo confusing........and ennoying :sad: Guess I will just bring the cats in and hope that, that was the problem if it happens again then I will get worried :angel: . I forgot to mention.....I have an owl that lives in the tree next to the house could it also be a possible candidate for being a menace to my hens?

okay so now I am really beginning to get peeved in the last week I have thrown out 2 sets of eggs, which were all fertile. It seemed that they had died early on and dried up but you could clearly see that they were fertile. I have just been out in the aviary and thrown out 6 more eggs same problem all fertile but had died early on and dried up. My question is could my cats be the problem? Is it possible that my cats are jumping up on the wire late at night and scaring the hens out while they are in sleep mode and they are not getting back on the eggs so they go cold and die???? I have seen the cat sitting at the base of the aviary some mornings when I get up but have never actually seen them jump on the wire. The only reason I say this is that the hens are barely off the nest at all during the day so this is the only thing I can think of that would be happening and going on un-noticed because its happening at night and by the time I get up the hens are back on the eggs, but unfortunatly they will have already died due to getting cold during the night. This may not be the reason for what is happening but I can't think of any other reason why the eggs would all do this....if you have any ideas as to what is happening or what I can do to prevent it plz dont hesitate to tell me......I am at my wits end :sad:

Hi Tonilee, I also wondered what caused d.i.shell chicks I had one hen lay 9 eggs, waited well past when first were due, she finally hatched 3 from 9. She was, I think first time mum and very scatty , she would fly off eggs kicking them around etc. every time I went in aviary. Mine were probably half formed when I checked them but all fertile. Even when she had chicks ready to leave nest she would hide under them. Maybe it's first time Mum's they may settle down with next batch. Fingers crossed anyway.

Thanks.....I am going to bring my cats in just incase ......I am going to wait til they lay their first eggs again then I will only check them every time they are due to lay again...I am going to keep away from the aviary as much as I can to see if it makes a difference. Hopefully it is just because they were upset and scuttled around a bit too much, and this time round we may actually get fertile eggs that make it the distance :sad:

The hens in the aviary that this is happening to, are those hens in with other birds ? Because in colony style breeding other birds can stop a hen returning to her eggs.

Colony breeding might be your problem, as Kaz has said above

My cat sneaks off at night and enjoys hanging on the aviary wire a la Garfield, or sprinting like a steam train up and down the back yard, or his favourite - stomping on the aviary roof ... :laughter:

 

He knows he is not supposed to do it .... and hides in the bushes when scolded ... :sadsorry:

 

The young birds find it all a bit unnerving and panic a bit but I know that within a month they will be taking no notice of him just like the adult birds.

 

But nesting birds are much more sensitive and you are doing the right thing by keeping your cat inside. Aviary breeding is fraught with added difficulties as Kaz and Dave alluded to and I'm afraid you need to be prepared for the odd carnage and misfortune.

 

Best of Luck! :laughter: