egg breaking and possibly eating

[geegee]

Ok,I put 3 white store eggs in my nesting boxes.I went out this morning to find one gone.It looks like one of my chickens took it out and either ate it or just broke it.all I found was a piece of shell and some white.Ok,lets say They did eat it,what do I do about it?By the way,I put the eggs in because the hens are 21 weeks old and still not laying.I thought this might inspire them

 

[Rusty Hills Farm]

Awh, you've got an egg eater! This is probably why you haven't seen any eggs yet--your egg eater is getting to them first. Try upping your protein and giving extra extra oyster shell.

Oh, and use fake eggs such as golf balls in the nests for just this reason. Once they develop a liking for their own eggs, you will have to fight for every one, so try to stop this before it really gets started.

Another thing that seems to help is to bed the nests really deeply so that after the eggs are laid they aren't too visible and don't attract the other hens or rooster's attention. Try slanting the nest floor so they roll out of sight once they are laid seems to help too.

Gee, can you tell I've had this problem a time or 3?

Rusty

 

[geegee]

Can you tell me how to up the protein?We have been feeding layer pellets from TSC is there something else I could give them?I heard somewhere to give cat food would that work?As far as I could see There are a couple of hens guarding the other 2 eggs.Thanks for the help

 

[cmom]

I have golf ball in my nest boxes. Some people use fake eggs.

 

[Ridgerunner]

If you are missing only one of three eggs, you might have an egg eater but then you might have a different problem. If a predator eats an egg, the chickens will usually clean up the shell. I'm thinking mainly a rat but it could have been something else like a possum or a skunk.

It is possible that the egg was accidentally broken and the chickens cleaned it up. That does not mean you have a chicken that is intentionally cracking the eggs to eat them, but it is a big step toward them learning to eat eggs. Do your nests have a lip on them to keep the eggs and bedding material from falling out? Maybe a hen stepped on it.

It's hard to tell what is going on. Rusty could be very right. I'd suggest the fake eggs. Don't leave real eggs in the nests for any longer than you have to. Eggs left in the nests increases the opportunity for accidents and can attract predators.

 

[geegee]

Could someone help me with the protein problem just in case?I took all eggs out this morning and will replace with fake ones soon.

 

[Rusty Hills Farm]

I generally feed game bird because it has higher protein. Most layer is only about 16%, so any food that is higher will help. Just be sure to give them extra oyster shell to replace their source of calcium if you stop giving layer feed entirely.

HTH