Anyone notice we are getting many threads on this problem right now? And is anyone noticing this is also mid-molt season?
In molt, eggs often lack enough calcium due to the nutrient needs of regrowing new feathers and egg-laying also can become a little weird due to abnormal hormone levels present during molting. All of this can lead to weak shells even when you are providing oyster shell and laying feeds. Many of these eggs get damaged during laying and when other hens climb into or out of the nests...these damaged eggs are then consumed~naturally. Any chicken will eat a broken or leaking egg when given the chance.
Also, any old hens or new layers will have wonky eggs at different times....shell-less, crooked, weak on one side and strong on another, nubbly or striped...any of these eggs are easily broken and then consumed.
Many a time I've collected eggs and found egg yolks on the eggs but no trace of the broken one...this egg was neatly consumed by an opportunistic hen and this does not make her a habitual egg eater. This is a natural occurence when you've kept chickens for a long time and it is nothing to cause concern as it will pass when nutrition or hormone levels regain some normalcy.
Don't panic, add some oyster shell to your feeds, observe the nature of your eggs/shells and this too shall pass...this is nature at it's best~ chickens taking care of weak eggs that would not support life if incubated.
Anyone keeping chickens until they die of natural causes may see this more frequently, anyone not providing enough nesting for the number of birds you keep might see this more, anyone feeding too many treats and not enough laying mash may see this more frequently, etc.
This a natural part of keeping chickens, folks, and not to be thought of as a bad trait in your chickens. If one is regularly culling birds too old to lay properly, those with reproductive problems, or those who are just poor doers then you won't often see this except in molting season or when peak egg laying season comes around.
In molt, eggs often lack enough calcium due to the nutrient needs of regrowing new feathers and egg-laying also can become a little weird due to abnormal hormone levels present during molting. All of this can lead to weak shells even when you are providing oyster shell and laying feeds. Many of these eggs get damaged during laying and when other hens climb into or out of the nests...these damaged eggs are then consumed~naturally. Any chicken will eat a broken or leaking egg when given the chance.
Also, any old hens or new layers will have wonky eggs at different times....shell-less, crooked, weak on one side and strong on another, nubbly or striped...any of these eggs are easily broken and then consumed.
Many a time I've collected eggs and found egg yolks on the eggs but no trace of the broken one...this egg was neatly consumed by an opportunistic hen and this does not make her a habitual egg eater. This is a natural occurence when you've kept chickens for a long time and it is nothing to cause concern as it will pass when nutrition or hormone levels regain some normalcy.
Don't panic, add some oyster shell to your feeds, observe the nature of your eggs/shells and this too shall pass...this is nature at it's best~ chickens taking care of weak eggs that would not support life if incubated.
Anyone keeping chickens until they die of natural causes may see this more frequently, anyone not providing enough nesting for the number of birds you keep might see this more, anyone feeding too many treats and not enough laying mash may see this more frequently, etc.
This a natural part of keeping chickens, folks, and not to be thought of as a bad trait in your chickens. If one is regularly culling birds too old to lay properly, those with reproductive problems, or those who are just poor doers then you won't often see this except in molting season or when peak egg laying season comes around.
