Cracked eggs 😑

[Jenessa_096]

Over the last four days I have found a broken egg in the coop without fail. I find the eggshell and yolk all over the nest. Thankfully my nests are plastic so the clean up is pretty easy. I do have one suspect which is my one year old hen Lulu. I saw her break it once but I’m pretty sure it was on accident because she stepped on it because they have to jump to the nests so when she landed on the egg it cracked. Do you guys think it’s an egg eater or something with my nests?

 

[Lauravonsmurf]

Usually they try to eat the yolk… ceramic hard eggs replaced in nest may help stop egg breaking if a hen is suspected. You need to check for eggs constantly if trying to break an egg pecker.

Does the shell seem thinner on the broken eggs… calcium may be needed.

Size and weight of hens can make cracked eggs a constant problem in some breeds.

 

[Jenessa_096]

Usually they try to eat the yolk… ceramic hard eggs replaced in nest may help stop egg breaking if a hen is suspected.

Does the shell seem thinner on the broken eggs… calcium may be needed.

It seems that she is breaking one egg in particular which is my Rhode Island Red hens egg which makes it seem that it’s not an accident 3/4 times it was her egg. They’re food has added oyster shells and I give them their own eggshells...

 

[STACEYH]

This is not an egg eater. How do the shells feel. Are they feeling thin fragile? Adding more calcium could help. If they have to jump up and they are breaking, you might make them a latter. steps, or lower the boxes.

 

[Jenessa_096]

This is not an egg eater. How do the shells feel. Are they feeling thin fragile? Adding more calcium could help. If they have to jump up and they are breaking, you might make them a latter. steps, or lower the boxes.

They do have a couple nesting boxes and bags they can jump on to make it easier to jump on the nests....

 

[Iluveggers]

Is the RIR the only darker brown egg in there?

 

[Lauravonsmurf]

Chickens can see color and are good at identifying things… if the RIR egg is not thinner shelled, the other hen could be targeting it. I would get some brown ceramic eggs and put them in the nest, add ramp to prevent any hen from accidentally breaking it. If you have a yolk eater increase protein is an old cure… there are several ways to do that. Rollaway Nesting boxes are useful to prevent the eggs getting broken. I feed 18% protein feed to my hens because one of the breeds needed more protein and began exhibiting problems, feather eating and egg eating… the slightly higher protein level, coupled with ceramic eggs, making sure the nesting box had plenty of bedding… the higher protein stopped the issues. Finally you can always eat her… most people just cull suspected yolk eaters. Below is a 1914 fix.

From Kansas Farmer 1914

 

[Iluveggers]

Chickens can see color and are good at identifying things… if the RIR egg is not thinner shelled, the other hen could be targeting it. I would get some brown ceramic eggs and put them in the nest, add ramp to prevent any hen from accidentally breaking it.

My thoughts exactly. We have wooden eggs that are light brown, but could easily be darkened to the color of that egg with a marker or stain. This is good advice. If they keep trying to poke them and nothing happens, hopefully they’ll stop.