Egg/shell

[Mrs Brewster]

I have 3 bantams and a legbar. the leg bar and 1 bantam have been laying for a while. With no problems, this week i have found 2 of the leg bars eggs broken and shell loose in the run. As though it been kicked out the nest or stood on.

I have 2 bantams trying to come into lay (and making a meal of it too!! :roll: ) At the same time as find these broken eggs i have found a small soft shell in the poo tray underneath.

I'm wondering what going on, I'm wondering if there is a fight for the nest and unfortunalty the leg bar egg has been a casualty or one of the others is kicking it out. Also i'm curious why i'm getting soft shelled egg? :?

Can anyone offer some advise.

 

[chrismahon]

Hi Mrs Brewster. Soft shelled eggs can occur during first lay or because of stress- fright at night or bullying on the perch. It can sometimes be diet as well, so you need to make sure they are on decent layers pellets.

Broken eggs can be accidental but if they have been eaten it could be because a soft one broke and they have made the connection that eggs with shells taste nice as well. Egg eating habit is difficult to break but try curtaining at the front of the nest box to keep eggs out of immediate sight and pot eggs in the nest box. They try to peck them open and can't so stop.

 

[Chuck]

If they are kicking them out, the side/sides of the nest box are not high enough - there are some very badly designed ones. Sometimes they decide not to use the boxes for whatever reason.

 

[Mrs Brewster]

We have since discovered which one is the one laying the soft shelled. We have stopped the treats and stuck to just pellets (fancy feed) for this week. Seems to have perked them up. They are not eating the eggs.

Will we keep getting soft shell until her diet balances or is it normal when they first start laying?

 

[chrismahon]

Some do lay soft shells when they first lay anyway. Stick to the stricter diet Mrs Brewster and see how it goes.

 

[Mrs Brewster]

Thanks very much will do.