Did they eat a rotten egg?

[Yay Chicks!]

I have four hens. Today, I got four eggs. HOWEVER, I caught them chasing each other around with a half of an egg shell. By the time I got to them, there was only a tiny piece of shell left.
They do not free range. There is really no where for them to hide eggs. The only thing I can think is that one of them laid an egg in the run at some point, it got dirt and leaves kicked over it and they happened to uncover it today. They are NOT egg eaters. They did eat a thin shelled egg once, but it was already cracked and that was many months ago. I'm guessing this egg got cracked, or exploded (ewww!).
So, my question is this, since I have no idea how old this egg they ate was, would hens eat a rotten egg? And, if they did eat a rotten egg, what would the consequences be?
I fed them some plain yogurt and put some ACV in their water in case that would help.

Thanks.

 

[FireTigeris]

Yay Chicks! :

I have four hens. Today, I got four eggs. HOWEVER, I caught them chasing each other around with a half of an egg shell. By the time I got to them, there was only a tiny piece of shell left.
They do not free range. There is really no where for them to hide eggs. The only thing I can think is that one of them laid an egg in the run at some point, it got dirt and leaves kicked over it and they happened to uncover it today. They are NOT egg eaters. They did eat a thin shelled egg once, but it was already cracked and that was many months ago. I'm guessing this egg got cracked, or exploded (ewww!).
So, my question is this, since I have no idea how old this egg they ate was, would hens eat a rotten egg? And, if they did eat a rotten egg, what would the consequences be?
I fed them some plain yogurt and put some ACV in their water in case that would help.

Thanks.

they will probably be fine- they would eat worse if you let them.​

 

[Yay Chicks!]

Thanks, FireTigeris. You're probably right about that

Anyone actually have their birds eat a rotten egg?

 

[me2pl]

some chickens eat McDonald's, they will definitely be all right

 

[Yay Chicks!]

Quote:
HA!

 

[dparadise]

I found that they will eat almost anything, mine steal bones from the dogs and then fight over them! The only thing that they don't seem to like is uncooked broccoli and carrots.

 

[jade2871]

I have four hens. Today, I got four eggs. HOWEVER, I caught them chasing each other around with a half of an egg shell. By the time I got to them, there was only a tiny piece of shell left.
They do not free range. There is really no where for them to hide eggs. The only thing I can think is that one of them laid an egg in the run at some point, it got dirt and leaves kicked over it and they happened to uncover it today. They are NOT egg eaters. They did eat a thin shelled egg once, but it was already cracked and that was many months ago. I'm guessing this egg got cracked, or exploded (ewww!).
So, my question is this, since I have no idea how old this egg they ate was, would hens eat a rotten egg? And, if they did eat a rotten egg, what would the consequences be?
I fed them some plain yogurt and put some ACV in their water in case that would help.

Thanks.

I just found a cracked rotten egg in the nest my broody chicken was sitting on (hence the foul odor coming from the nesting boxes...ewww) I removed the egg and sit it on the ground for a second to check the rest, low and behold the other chickens were pecking and grabbing at it slinging the nasty grey fluid around to my horror. Disposing to the remaining egg was nauseating. I do not know what the effects will be but to be on the safe side, I will be disposing of any laid eggs for the next week.