Egg broke under hen

[laurianne]

I came home from work today to find my broody cleaning up a broken egg under her by eating it. I was able to clean everything remaining up. I don't think it was fertilized it was very yellow yolk. But now there is yolk on some of the other eggs. We are on day 5.
She tucked all the other eggs back under her once I got everything cleaned up. Is there something i can do?

 

[mattjnrme]

Don't let it eat them it won't stop

 

[mattjnrme]

Won't stop

eating the eggs that is

 

[mattjnrme]

Take the eggs so she won't eat them otherwise she will eat them basically then a while later go back to normal again

 

[laurianne]

She didn't eat anymore. Is it possible she was cleaning up the mess to prevent predators. Once I got the remaining of it cleaned up she sat on the others and was still sitting this morning. I don't think she did it on purpose

 

[newwestchick]

My broody had an egg explode on her once and cleaned it up the best she could. She also ate the shells after the chicks hatched, so I think you're right about predator prevention

 

[laurianne]

My broody had an egg explode on her once and cleaned it up the best she could. She also ate the shells after the chicks hatched, so I think you're right about predator prevention

Thank you!!!!
Did she ever try to eat eggs after she was back to her normal laying schedule?

 

[newwestchick]

I've never had an egg eater,including that hen, other than the opportunistic kind.

I had a run of "rubber" eggs when my girls started laying - but they always got dropped on the coop floor, then would break and inevitably get eaten. If they weren't broken I would toss them into the run for the hens to eat. I also give them shells practically whole without baking them...

My personal thought about egg eating is that when there is too much light in the nest box, some of the ladies get curious and start pecking (ever seen them with a mislaid egg in the run?) and if they break them that way it could be habit forming, should they not have enough other stuff to keep their minds occupied. With a good dark nest they tend to do their business then leave, in my observations.

I also suppose diet could come into play, chickens are good at finding what they need so in a minimum protein situation they may turn to eggs.

I have however had a (not broody) hen try to eat a 3 day old chick... She's a nasty hen though and regularly kills frogs about that size so I shouldn't have been surprised!