Destructive Chickens

[lemonie12]

Thanks. I thought the corn had a little more protein in it then it apparently does. Besides bag feed from he store, any recommendations on what I could add in the mix for the protein? I'll get some oyster shells also. Thanks again!

 

[Hensndoes]

Besides bag feed

No besides. Bag feed is a more balanced nutrition unless you want to get into that fermenting stuff (expert level and I'm not there yet).

Find a high protein feed and let your chickens be healthy chickens.

 

[Kiki]

I about fell out of my chair when you said their diet was mainly corn.
Please read this:
http://articles.extension.org/pages/69065/feeding-chickens-for-egg-production

 

[ChickNanny13]

Yup, they are eating eggs for the protein they are not getting. Soft shells are lack of calcium. Collect eggs more frequently, if there's a certain hen you know is eating eggs ... Not sure you can break an egg eater.
I feed Flock Raiser (fermented) with grit & Oyster Shells in separate dishes ... No problems & healthy shells.

Hensndoes - Fermenting is not expert level, if I can do it anyone can

 

[JaeG]

Mixing your own feed to the right specifications is generally more expensive than buying pre-made chicken feed. It's possible, but it is a lot more work and more expensive when you aren't buying in bulk.

 

[lemonie12]

I about fell out of my chair when you said their diet was mainly corn.
Please read this:
http://articles.extension.org/pages/69065/feeding-chickens-for-egg-production

Thanks, this link is very helpful.

 

[Kiki]

Thanks, this link is very helpful.

Awesome, I am super glad you thought so.

 

[jennwhiddon]

I think on the egg eating issue lots of good advice has been offered, so I have a few suggestions for keeping the straw in the boxes, we used to struggle with this also. First, be sure the boxes have some sort of lip on the front, about 3 to 4 inches tall. Also if the boxes are fairly high off the ground and your hens have to fly up to get into them and then have to leap out to the ground below, they usually take quite a bit of the straw with them, chickens are not usually very graceful. You can give them a perch in front of the nest boxes to jump onto first, and place it close enough that they then can just step into the boxes easily. This also helps with broken eggs, often the hens like to use the same boxes and if there are several eggs in a box and the hens have to fly/leap in, they may break any eggs already in there accidentally. And then because they are chickens, they will eat the broken eggs, just because it's there. Anyway, best of luck to you.

 

[lemonie12]

Thank for you your reply! I’m so sorry I didn’t get back quicker! The nest are up with perches but that makes a lot of sense. I think you’re right on them knocking the eggs a little from what I’ve observed.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Thanks everyone! Right now their feed is primarily ground corn but also get sunflowers/seed, wheat seed and kitchen scraps. Most shells are not thin at all but there's a few that are. A few chickens do like to peck at the eggs I collect in the basket while I'm in there. At first I thought they were curious but I'm sure they do it on purpose. I've had to pull a chicken out of the nest before, she was trying to break the eggs to eat.

I use to not have any problems so hopefully it is just a phase they will come out of! I collect them once a day but can't really get in to collect more than that on most days.

I appreciate the feedback, thank you again!

It seems on the surface that your birds are suffering from malnutrition. Ground or cracked corn, Sunflower seeds, wheat, and leftovers sounds terribly lacking in the vitamins, and minerals that hens, especially young hens needs to produce eggs.