Want steady, healthy eggs from your hens or a safe laying for your pet reptile? Egg-laying is mostly predictable once you cover three basics: proper diet, a quiet nesting spot, and the right environment. Below are clear steps you can use today to improve egg quality and reduce problems like egg-eating, soft shells, or hens skipping laying.
Start with diet: laying hens need enough calories and protein plus extra calcium. Feed a balanced layer feed (16% protein) and offer crushed oyster shell free-choice for calcium. Don’t hide grit—hens and many reptiles need grit or substrate to digest food properly. Clean water is non-negotiable; fresh water helps egg formation and keeps hens laying.
Set up nest boxes before hens begin laying: one box for every 3–4 hens works well. Make boxes comfy and dark with clean bedding—straw, wood shavings, or shredded paper. Keep boxes tucked away from high-traffic zones so hens feel safe. Collect eggs at least twice a day to discourage egg-eating and to keep eggs clean.
Lighting matters. Hens need about 14–16 hours of light to lay consistently. In short winter days you can add a low-wattage light on a timer, but avoid sudden long light bursts—that stresses birds. For pet reptiles, provide a humid, dark laying area like a box with moistened peat or vermiculite; many reptiles will dig if given a proper substrate.
Soft-shelled or thin-shelled eggs usually mean low calcium or sudden stress. Increase oyster shell and cut back on treats that dilute nutrition (like too many kitchen scraps). If multiple hens show weak shells, check water supply and parasite control. Worms and poor gut health can drop egg quality fast.
Sudden drop in laying? Look for causes: molt, broodiness, heat stress, predators, or recent moves. Molting (feather loss) stops laying while hens rebuild, and that can last weeks. If a hen becomes broody and sits on eggs constantly, you can either let her hatch or gently break the broodiness cycle by moving her to a separate pen with food and water and limiting comfortable nesting for a few days.
Egg-eating is behavioral. Find and remove problem eggs, close dark hiding spots where hens can peck, and provide plenty of manipulable treats—like cabbage or cut-up apple—to keep them busy. Train hens to lay in boxes by placing fake eggs in nests for a few days.
If a pet reptile strains but doesn’t lay, offer a moist laying box and keep temperatures steady. Persistent problems need a vet check for egg binding or infection.
Small, steady changes beat big overhauls. Improve feed, secure clean nests, check light and stressors, and you’ll see better egg-laying fast. Got a specific problem with your flock or pet? Describe it and you’ll get tailored fixes that work.
In today's blog post, I want to share with you some of the most dangerous parasites that can invade your skin and lay eggs, potentially causing severe health problems. These parasites include the Tumbu fly, the human botfly, and certain species of ticks. These tiny creatures can burrow into our skin, lay their eggs, and cause painful and uncomfortable symptoms. It's essential to take precautions when traveling to areas where these parasites are common and seek medical attention if you suspect an infestation. Stay tuned for more information on how to protect yourself from these skin invaders and maintain your overall health.