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ORGANIC PULTY
A GOD EG
If you find a stash of eggs, how can you tell if they
are suitable for eating? Put them one by one in a bowl
of water; if they float, they are stale and should be
disposed of, whereas if they sink, they are fresh and
able to be eaten.
It’s best not to wash dirty eggs as it’s possible
to wash bacteria into shell pores, spoiling the egg.
Instead, either brush off dirt with a wire brush, or
use a dry cloth to clean them.
To maintain freshness, store eggs in the fridge; a
day on the bench is equal to a week in the fridge! Eggs
can last 3–5 weeks in refrigeration. If you want to
freeze eggs, crack them and whisk the contents first.Hens should be encouraged to lay in the actual nest
because it’s more hygienic for eggs to lie on clean litter
away from manure, it discourages breakages and egg
eating and, of course, eggs are easier to fi nd.
The presence of irritating pests can put hens off their
nests. Inspect woodwork for red mites, and if found, treat
by cleaning the chook pen and nests, pouring boiling
water in all cracks and crevices. Also check fowls for
resident lice and mites, and use an appropriate
dusting powder if required.
Birds are more likely to lay in nests that meet their
criteria of low, dark, comfortable and well ventilated.
Add a fake egg or golf ball to encourage them if needed.
If all these factors are in place, letting chooks out
later in the morning, after they have laid, may be what’s
needed to train them to use nests.Broodiness
A hen that’s refusing to leave the nest at all is likely
to be broody. Other signs are clucking, pecking at you,
plucking breast feathers, paying little attention to feed
and refusing to use her legs when placed on the ground.
Going broody is a natural instinct. Her hormones
are telling her she has laid a clutch of eggs and it’s time
to sit and hatch them. Broodiness has been all but bred
out of hybrids, but purebreds will still regularly succumb.
It’s more likely to occur in abundantly feathered fowls,
in breeds that produce good mothers, and during
periods of hot weather.
It’s best to break this broody trance if you don’t
intend to hatch chicks. Not only does broodiness
represent a loss of productivity, but also a signifi cant
drop in condition as the hen limits feed while on
task. Leaving her be in hopes she will just snapout of it is not best for her health. Act early and it will be
a quicker process.
First, remove her from the nest to a location without
warm soft litter and dark corners. In the old days, broodies
were placed in hanging wire cages, but this is no longer
considered humane. The latest research has found that
physical activity is more effective in reducing broodiness,
so she needs room to exercise. It helps to provide new
surroundings, plenty of daylight, and engaging
activities. I either free range a broody in the garden or
move her to separate digs in my quarantine run. She
can return to the fl ock when she has had no signs of
broodiness for at least two days. If returned tooearly,
she may subside back into her broody state!Below: Hens don’t like
coops that are set high for
easy human access.
Right: Check eggs are fresh.
Far right: A broody hen.PHOTOS: JESSAMY MILLER