Egg eating maddness!!!!

[aart]

I was thinking maybe they weren't getting enough roaming space as well maybe... Thought about opening the tractor during the day letting them lose and closing them up at night and see if it improves anything.. I feed them egg laying pellets and they always have grass and almost everyday they get some.sort of kitchen scraps

Layer pellets are usually only 16% protein....sometimes that's not enough, especially if they have other foods.


I like to feed a flock raiser/grower/finisher 20% protein crumble to all ages and genders, as non-layers(chicks, males and molting birds) do not need the extra calcium that is in layer feed and chicks and molters can use the extra protein. Makes life much simpler to store and distribute one type of chow that everyone can eat. I do grind up the crumbles (in the blender) for the chicks for the first week or so.

The higher protein crumble also offsets the 8% protein scratch grains and other kitchen/garden scraps I like to offer. I adjust the amounts of other feeds to get the protein levels desired with varying situations.

Calcium should be available at all times for the layers, I use oyster shell mixed with rinsed, dried, crushed chicken egg shells in a separate container.

Animal protein (mealworms, a little cheese - beware the salt content, meat scraps) is provided during molting and if I see any feather eating.

 

[BBQJOE]

Do they eat feathers too?
I Started saving shells way before I got my chickens. I I put them in an open container to let them dry. After that, I crush them with a wooden mallet. Then I powder them in a blender. Once a week or so, I put a couple large handfuls in with their wet mash and mix it up.
I haven't noticed an egg eaten yet. The calcium also seemed to correct feather plucking and eating.

 

[asthrngal89]

Haven't ever seen them eat feathers

 

[BBQJOE]

Haven't ever seen them eat feathers

I did. I got 10 week old birds to start, and they were gobbling up tail feathers.

 

[PenelopeRose]

One of my girls is also eating her eggs. At first, I found a sticky mess and thought an egg broke by accident. Then there was a sticky mess w/ shell leftover for two days and tonight I saw her peck it open right after she laid it.
Since she is leaving the shell, I presume this is a protein deficiency. Can anyone provide guidance on what is the recommended amt of protein in chicken feed? My girls eat organic, soy free layer feed w/ 17% protein. Is this low, normal, high?

They get to free range whenever I'm home and they get a variety of fresh veggies that I buy for them including spinach which is their fav. Maybe I should cut back the fresh veggies so they focus on their feed? I have noticed that they have eaten less feed for the past few days...maybe she isn't eating it / getting enough protein.
They already have free choice oyster shell.

Any suggestions for non dairy protein supplements?

 

[PenelopeRose]

And, do I need to worry about salmonella spreading throughout the coop from the raw egg?

 

[BBQJOE]

One of my girls is also eating her eggs. At first, I found a sticky mess and thought an egg broke by accident. Then there was a sticky mess w/ shell leftover for two days and tonight I saw her peck it open right after she laid it.
Since she is leaving the shell, I presume this is a protein deficiency. Can anyone provide guidance on what is the recommended amt of protein in chicken feed? My girls eat organic, soy free layer feed w/ 17% protein. Is this low, normal, high?

They get to free range whenever I'm home and they get a variety of fresh veggies that I buy for them including spinach which is their fav. Maybe I should cut back the fresh veggies so they focus on their feed? I have noticed that they have eaten less feed for the past few days...maybe she isn't eating it / getting enough protein.
They already have free choice oyster shell.

Any suggestions for non dairy protein supplements?

Maybe take some extra eggs, scramble them and feed 'em to her. It appears she wants eggs.

 

[aart]

One of my girls is also eating her eggs. At first, I found a sticky mess and thought an egg broke by accident. Then there was a sticky mess w/ shell leftover for two days and tonight I saw her peck it open right after she laid it.
Since she is leaving the shell, I presume this is a protein deficiency. Can anyone provide guidance on what is the recommended amt of protein in chicken feed? My girls eat organic, soy free layer feed w/ 17% protein. Is this low, normal, high?

They get to free range whenever I'm home and they get a variety of fresh veggies that I buy for them including spinach which is their fav. Maybe I should cut back the fresh veggies so they focus on their feed? I have noticed that they have eaten less feed for the past few days...maybe she isn't eating it / getting enough protein.
They already have free choice oyster shell.

Any suggestions for non dairy protein supplements?

16% protein is the most common for layer feed and about bare minimum for egg production.

Any other foods(veggies, scratch grains) dilute that protein amount.....hard to gauge what kind of protein they may pick up ranging.

Non dairy protein supplement?....meat scraps, mealworms.



My Feeding Notes: I like to feed a flock raiser/grower/finisher 20% protein crumble to all ages and genders, as non-layers(chicks, males and molting birds) do not need the extra calcium that is in layer feed and chicks and molters can use the extra protein. Makes life much simpler to store and distribute one type of chow that everyone can eat. I do grind up the crumbles (in the blender) for the chicks for the first week or so.

The higher protein crumble also offsets the 8% protein scratch grains and other kitchen/garden scraps I like to offer. I adjust the amounts of other feeds to get the protein levels desired with varying situations.

Calcium should be available at all times for the layers, I use oyster shell mixed with rinsed, dried, crushed chicken egg shells in a separate container.

Animal protein (mealworms, a little cheese - beware the salt content, meat scraps) is provided during molting and if I see any feather eating.

 

[PenelopeRose]

Thank you. Ordering meal worms right now
I have some nuts (and eggs) I can give her in the interim. The odd thing is, she is only eating her own egg. She leaves the other two (for now).
Thx again!!

 

[aart]

Thank you. Ordering meal worms right now

I have some nuts (and eggs) I can give her in the interim. The odd thing is, she is only eating her own egg. She leaves the other two (for now).
Thx again!!

Not sure I'd give them nuts.....salt and fat content can be high.

Another question....is the shell good and thick?
Thin shelled eggs easily broken are fair game, but can create a habit.
Eating her own eggs could be another issue not dietary....maybe she's a bit neurotic and is 'protecting' them for some reason.