Breaking my blue eggs...those Haters!

[kimberdougl5]

2 months ago I introduced a new hen to my flock...so now I have 7 hens. After a week, the "new pecking order" was established, and they all get along just fine. My original 6 hens lay buff to medium brown eggs. My new hen lays blue eggs. Now that she's settled in and laying, I have only gotten 1 unbroken blue egg out of a dozen or so. "Somebody" is breaking ONLY BLUE EGGS. I haven't caught them in action, so I have no idea who is doing it. No other eggs are being broken, kicked around, or otherwise messed with. These blue eggs looked like they've been stomped on. Any suggestions? TIA

 

[azygous]

What is the shell quality of these blue eggs? Normal thickness? Or on the thin side?

Thin shell eggs can get smashed as the hen is leaving the nest. Other hens may notice the compromised egg and peck at it to liberate the contents. Chickens hate to see an egg go to waste, you know.

It's a simple thing to examine the shell remains for thickness or thinness, and then give this new hen a calcium supplement until her eggs are thick shell enough to hold up under hens climbing around in the nest.

This is the best type of calcium to give a hen with a shell problem. Give the whole tablet directly into the beak. No, she will not choke on a whole pill.

 

[Nor-Cal Chickens]

Place some of those fake eggs in there that are blue in color. My nesting boxes have fake eggs in theme of all the colors my hens lay.

 

[kimberdougl5]

What is the shell quality of these blue eggs? Normal thickness? Or on the thin side?

Thin shell eggs can get smashed as the hen is leaving the nest. Other hens may notice the compromised egg and peck at it to liberate the contents. Chickens hate to see an egg go to waste, you know.

It's a simple thing to examine the shell remains for thickness or thinness, and then give this new hen a calcium supplement until her eggs are thick shell enough to hold up under hens climbing around in the nest.

This is the best type of calcium to give a hen with a shell problem. Give the whole tablet directly into the beak. No, she will not choke on a whole pill.

The shell consistency is normal, not thin at all. It's definitely being done on purpose. And, they're leaving the whole mess, not eating it. It's the darndest thing.

 

[kimberdougl5]

Place some of those fake eggs in there that are blue in color. My nesting boxes have fake eggs in theme of all the colors my hens lay.

I'll give it a try! I just wondered if it was becuz of the color...or her!

 

[kimberdougl5]

What is the shell quality of these blue eggs? Normal thickness? Or on the thin side?

Thin shell eggs can get smashed as the hen is leaving the nest. Other hens may notice the compromised egg and peck at it to liberate the contents. Chickens hate to see an egg go to waste, you know.

It's a simple thing to examine the shell remains for thickness or thinness, and then give this new hen a calcium supplement until her eggs are thick shell enough to hold up under hens climbing around in the nest.

This is the best type of calcium to give a hen with a shell problem. Give the whole tablet directly into the beak. No, she will not choke on a whole pill.

Another broken blue egg today...and yes, the shell was THIN! I rushed right on out and picked up some calcium. Thank you for the advice.

 

[AprilsZoo]

The fake eggs (or even painted egg-shaped rocks) are effective because one good peck at a hard no-egg and they won’t like it. They learn their lesson quickly.

Maybe several blue “eggs“ slipped into the nest boxes might be just the deterrent they need.