Chickens tossed an egg?

[ChocolateWingTheRooster]

A week or so ago, I collected eggs. I left the basket alone, outside. When I came back, a few of my chickens were out and had every egg out of the basket... and were eating the only green egg (that I got, it was cracked) and I was forced to throw the egg to stop them from eating it... but why and how did they get every egg out? And why was the one who layed the egg eating it, (yes, I confirmed it... it was hers) anyway?

 

[AviansLove]

A week or so ago, I collected eggs. I left the basket alone, outside. When I came back, a few of my chickens were out and had every egg out of the basket... and were eating the only green egg (that I got, it was cracked) and I was forced to throw the egg to stop them from eating it... but why and how did they get every egg out? And why was the one who layed the egg eating it, (yes, I confirmed it... it was hers) anyway?

They eat their eggs sometimes for calcium or just for treats, give my chickens eggs sometimes.

 

[AviansLove]

Oh also, don't do that again or when they lay the eggs sometimes they eat them.

 

[getaclue]

They may have been trying to put the eggs back in the nestbox, or build a nest area for them. It's not uncommon. When there is a broody, and multiple nestboxes, they will try putting all the eggs under the broody. A good broody will roll bad eggs out of their nestbox. In the process, if one breaks, they will eat them. I've never had one really break them on purpose, and eat them, (eggeater) but if one cracks open, or breaks, most of them will eat it.

 

[ChocolateWingTheRooster]

Oh also, don't do that again or when they lay the eggs sometimes they eat them.

I definitely won’t, I was having an off-day...

 

[slordaz]

Most likely some is getting ready to go broody, they ate the one that got cracked. Mine do that to me when they wanted to brood, they see it as they are trying to get a clutch together to sit on and your stealing it.

If they aren't fertile and/or you don't want them to hatch out don't set the egg basked down where they can get to it even if you are watching it. My hens tend to wait until they know I am not watching close enough and all help the broody get eggs under her. Crazy chickens thought she could hatch out 30 eggs on more than one occasion.

If they are getting ready to molt or just coming off of molt they have a voracious appetite too as molting takes a lot out of them.

 

[chickens really]

Probably the one that was damaged. A fluke I'm thinking..

 

[AviansLove]

Most likely some is getting ready to go broody, they ate the one that got cracked. Mine do that to me when they wanted to brood, they see it as they are trying to get a clutch together to sit on and your stealing it.

If they aren't fertile and/or you don't want them to hatch out don't set the egg basked down where they can get to it even if you are watching it. My hens tend to wait until they know I am not watching close enough and all help the broody get eggs under her. Crazy chickens thought she could hatch out 30 eggs on more than one occasion.

If they are getting ready to molt or just coming off of molt they have a voracious appetite too as molting takes a lot out of them.

Never new that, very interesting.

 

[ChocolateWingTheRooster]

Most likely some is getting ready to go broody, they ate the one that got cracked. Mine do that to me when they wanted to brood, they see it as they are trying to get a clutch together to sit on and your stealing it.

If they aren't fertile and/or you don't want them to hatch out don't set the egg basked down where they can get to it even if you are watching it. My hens tend to wait until they know I am not watching close enough and all help the broody get eggs under her. Crazy chickens thought she could hatch out 30 eggs on more than one occasion.

If they are getting ready to molt or just coming off of molt they have a voracious appetite too as molting takes a lot out of them.

I’m pretty sure a few may be molting, since I only got 5, unlike my usual 8-11. (I mean 5 eggs lol)

 

[aart]

I’m pretty sure a few may be molting, since I only got 5, unlike my usual 8-11. (I mean 5 eggs lol)

How old are your birds?