Koekynät

Koekynät is a Finnish term that can be translated to "test eggs" or "dummy eggs". In practical terms, koekynät refers to artificial eggs that are often used in the context of poultry farming, particularly with chickens and ducks. These artificial eggs serve several important purposes to help manage the laying and nesting behavior of birds.

One primary use of koekynät is to encourage hens to lay their eggs in a designated nesting box. When a hen is ready to lay, she will typically seek out a nest. Placing a koekynä in a nesting box can attract the hen and signal that this is a suitable place to deposit her eggs. This practice helps to keep eggs clean and undamaged, as they are less likely to be laid in less desirable locations like the floor of the coop.

Koekynät are also useful for training young pullets when they begin to lay. By introducing these dummy eggs early on, keepers can help establish good laying habits from the outset, guiding the birds towards consistent use of nesting areas. The artificial eggs can also be used to monitor the laying patterns of individual birds or flocks, although their primary function is behavioral guidance rather than precise tracking. They are typically made from durable materials like plastic or wood to withstand repeated use.