egg eater!

[henhouse1012]

The run is 25 long x 15 wide. 8 other girls. The coop is 12x14 and 14 ft tall. 2 roosting bars along wall and 2x4s in rafters for extra roosting. 2 inches of pine shavings on coop floor. Set up a go pro today. No egg eating but one kept looking very interested in hopping up to the nesting boxes and didn't lay.

 

[jpalmatier83]

Really doesn't sound like a lack of space. Free access to the run? Like an automatic door, or are they not locked in at night?

 

[henhouse1012]

Hindged door to get in and out. Locked up at night. I leave the (2) 2x2 hindged windows open all day and night.

 

[jpalmatier83]

The plot thickens lol...

A hinged door implys that you have to let them out intentionally. Couple that with your statement that your work schedule leads to not being able to egg collect consistently.

Is there any type of correlation between the egg eating and a variation in when you allow them out into the run?

 

[lazy gardener]

An other consideration might be that you have a hen who is laying a weak shelled egg. If that's so, it is not unreasonable that she would eat THAT egg. Offer more protein, eliminate the snacks as they would result in overall decrease in daily protein intake. Give oyster shell and egg shell on the side.

 

[aart]

An other consideration might be that you have a hen who is laying a weak shelled egg. If that's so, it is not unreasonable that she would eat THAT egg. Offer more protein, eliminate the snacks as they would result in overall decrease in daily protein intake. Give oyster shell and egg shell on the side.

I was wondering about thin shells too......
.....with all the fruits, not only may be getting less protein from eating less layer feed, bit also less vita mins and minerals to absorb and excrete the calcium.
Tho if no egg shells left behind might be hard to tell if eggs eaten are thin shelled.

 

[henhouse1012]

No shell left behind but one of the older RIR has a weak spot in her shells once and awhile. That one deff doesn't have a chance if I don't get to it quick. Is there an additive for vitamin d and calcium I can put in water? I remember doing that in my exotic bird days.

 

[lazy gardener]

Poultry Nutri-Drench should provide the extra vitamins. Oyster shell should do the trick for Calcium.

 

[henhouse1012]

So I increasing protein via meal worms. Did the mustard in the egg trick and the problem chicken demolished the mustard filled egg. I'm going to continue what I'm doing for a few days to see if there are any changes.

 

[jpalmatier83]

Lol, wow, what'd she think of the mustard egg?!? Did she actually eat the mustard? That's crazy.