If you’re raising chickens for their eggs, you will want eggs every day to cook with and eat. If egg production starts slowing down, you may wonder if there are any ways to get the chickens to lay as usual again. Some people think fake eggs can help with the egg production problem.
In this article, I will go further in-depth on fake eggs and what does it really do for chickens.
Do Fake Eggs Help Chickens Lay More Eggs?
No, fake eggs do not help chickens lay more eggs. What fake eggs do is help the hen lay eggs in their nesting box. This will make it easier for you to collect the eggs, instead of having to go around the entire yard looking for them.
When Do Chickens Start Laying Eggs?
Typically, when the hens reach 16 to 24 weeks of age, they will start to lay eggs.
The season also determines when the hen will lay eggs. During warmer months of the year, the chickens will lay eggs. As it gets colder, she will lay fewer eggs or no eggs at all.
What Are Dummy Eggs Used For?
There are many reasons why dummy eggs are used. Dummy eggs can be anything such as plastic eggs, ceramic eggs, and even golf balls. Anything that resembles an egg will usually work.
Below are some reasons why you would want to use dummy eggs:
Get Chickens To Lay Eggs At One Location
Chickens tend to lay eggs where ever they feel comfortable and safe. This means the hens can lay eggs outside the coop in the yard, under shrubs, and even under the porch. This will make it difficult for you to collect their eggs.
To make it easier to collect the eggs, you can place fake eggs in their nest. When they see the fake eggs, they’ll lay eggs in the nest.
Fake Eggs Helps Deter Predators
If you have free-ranging chickens, they tend to lay eggs outside the coop. If there are predators around, the eggs can be in great danger. Predators like skunks, minks, rats, and snakes prey on eggs. Some will even keep coming back if there are eggs for them every day.
Not only is this a danger for the eggs, but the chickens as well. As the predators eat the eggs, if they see chicks or young chickens nearby, they won’t hesitate to attack and kill them.
By placing the fake eggs in their nest, it will encourage the hens to lay eggs in the coop. If there are no eggs in the yard, the predators will be less likely to come into the yard.
What Type of Fake Eggs Work Best?
When it comes to fake eggs, as long as it resembles real eggs, it will work.
Some people find success using golf balls, old plastic Easter eggs, and ceramic browns. For plastic eggs, fill them with dirt or sand, so they can withstand the weight of the hen.
If you don’t have any, you can simply use stones. Make sure the stones are large and about the same size as an egg.
Where Do You Put Fake Eggs?
The place to put the fake eggs is in their nest. This is where you want the hen to lay the eggs.
If you have more than one nesting boxes, make sure to put the fake eggs in all of them.
How Long Does It Take For The Fake Eggs To Work?
It depends on the chickens and how often they lay eggs. Some may notice the fake eggs right away, while others may take some time to see them.
Chickens are stubborn animals, and it will take some time to get them to lay in their nest. Once they do, they’ll use the nesting box from thereon.
If after a week or so and your hens are still laying eggs outside the nesting box, you’ll need to look deeper into the issue. The chickens may not lay eggs in their nest if it’s filthy, a predator such as rats may be in the coop, or the nest is placed too high off the ground.
If there’s something wrong with their nesting box, the chickens will not use it, no matter how hard you try to place the fake eggs in there.
When To Remove the Fake Eggs?
When to remove the fake eggs will be entirely up to you. Some people will remove it when the hens start to lay eggs in the nest regularly. Others will simply leave the fake eggs in the nest to make the hens feel safe.
Conclusion
Fake eggs don’t help the chickens lay more eggs. What it does is help the chicken lay eggs in one location. This will help with collecting the eggs much easier and prevent predators from coming into your yard.
