Hen rotates the eggs all the time

[hector]

My two pair is breeding at the moment. We got eggs in both nest boxes.
As they are in my living room I got a good overview of what's happening. I hear that one of the hen's moves the eggs in every hour and she does it quite vehement.
Two days ago when I was candling the eggs I found that one of the eggs got a puncture type of damage (crack) on it. The next day I have moved the eggs inside the nest by hand (to put more shavings where the hen sits on the eggs, as she always "sits out" the shavings and the eggs are lying on the wood) and this egg simply collapsed between my fingers... (so now she got 3 eggs left)

Why does she rotates/adjust on the eggs so often? (also at night time)
What can I do about it?

Already took out some more wood shavings for airing > I'm planning to put in more to the nest box, but I'm absolutely not sure if that is a solution for this.

Please advise...

[Ryan.W]

i would try not to handle the eggs too often . It's not 100% necessary for their to be shavings either. Just let nature take course im sure she knows what she's doing .

[Deleted]

shes turning them eggs so to keep there temp right......and keep the shavings in there they are important...if to sparse there no good ...but if lots in there it helps stop splayed legs ...and keeps the chicks much cleaner ...

[hector]

Yeah, sure; I'm only handling the eggs when it's necessary. It means approximately once in 3-4 days.
Didn't touched them for candling either.

I think I will put in more shavings.
Will see what's happening then.

Barrie wrote in another topic that he put 2 inch of wooden shavings in his nest boxes. I'm not sure if that was for exhibition budgies or for pet budgies.(?)
How much should I put in for my pet budgies?
Aren't the eggs going to sink in too deep shavings?

[barrieshutt]

Good post Ryan and Mick ....once i mark my eggs they are never touched again Hector

[hector]

What you think about adding more shavings, Barrie?
(Of course than I would have to handle the eggs once again...)

[Ryan.W]

it's seems shavings are debated . I said not 100% necessary because i remember when i bred my budgies when a egg was laid, the shavings seemed to take the moisture out of it and then stick to the egg for a little while. I don't know if that's good bad or neutral but i took it as bad since it's taking moisture. Also my hens tended to kick it out or move it too their taste ,and in the process kick the eggs too. I suppose it's all down to the hen like i say that's what both of mine did . Plus in the wild they would nest in hollowed tree's, where there wont be much chipped wood/wood shavings, just a bare surface, i also know most breeders in my area don't use sand shavings, i agree though it keeps the box way more clean. but like i say i suppose it depends on the breeders and the hens preferences . (just thought i'd explain my anwser).

i would say if the hen is ok with it add more .

[Ryan.W]

Jan 1, 2012 1:58:03 GMT @mickmay said:

shes turning them eggs so to keep there temp right......and keep the shavings in there they are important...if to sparse there no good ...but if lots in there it helps stop splayed legs ...and keeps the chicks much cleaner ...

i thought it would do the opposite. i read the concave circle helped keep the chicks upright, and if the shavings fill in this circle then it doesn't keep them up as much. If that made sence, that's just the way i always thought about it. Im confused now /

[hector]

Before the next round I will make concaves...
Or isn't it too late to put in one just now? (they got 6 and 5 eggs at the moment)

[Deleted]

Jan 1, 2012 18:35:39 GMT Ryan.W said:

it's seems shavings are debated . I said not 100% necessary because i remember when i bred my budgies when a egg was laid, the shavings seemed to take the moisture out of it and then stick to the egg for a little while. I don't know if that's good bad or neutral but i took it as bad since it's taking moisture. Also my hens tended to kick it out or move it too their taste ,and in the process kick the eggs too. I suppose it's all down to the hen like i say that's what both of mine did . Plus in the wild they would nest in hollowed tree's, where there wont be much chipped wood/wood shavings, just a bare surface, i also know most breeders in my area don't use sand shavings, i agree though it keeps the box way more clean. but like i say i suppose it depends on the breeders and the hens preferences . (just thought i'd explain my anwser).

i would say if the hen is ok with it add more .

i agree ryan it depends on the budgie...but if they are used to chipings its best to use them ...
i never used them before joining a forum ...now id never not put it in ...its much beter ......warmer and healthyer...iv seem the light..... ..

[Ryan.W]

i think i might try mine with it again the next time i try them and see how i get on. . It did keep the box ALOT cleaner .

[andy4711]

Every pair i put down throw out the shavings. Like Barrie, once i have marked the eggs, i don't as a rule touch them again. After they have all hatched, and the youngest is 3 days old, i clean the box and concave, then put in a layer of shavings, turning my fist around in the concave. I have yet to find a hen that will now throw the shavings out.

[hector]

Well, these hens of mine are not having any problems with the shavings: they didn't throw out any of it from their boxes.
I'm still confused: should I put in more shavings right now? (I think we reached the final egg numbers: 7 and 5)
Should I put in a concave?

The hen with the 7 eggs is in trouble sitting properly on all the eggs. She is quite small and those lots of eggs...
She did appreciate it when I helped her to get the last egg under her today. It was out of her reach, near to her tail... I guess she couldn't reach it without letting more eggs roll out... I think she would have let it be like that... I pushed the egg near to her head so she pulled it under herself.

[Deleted]

i would just leave them to it now ...

[hector]

I think I will do that.
First egg hatched this morning by the way.