Egg Eater

[TubbyChicken]

I have two hens in one coop...only one is laying and lays reliably, every other day. There doesn't seem to be a specific time, but she usually lays after 12:00...

I went down this morning to refill the waterers, take some treats and let one of the hens out to free range and found an egg in the floor. It was cracked and empty.

It was only cracked and open at the top.

I'm so worried that I now have an egg eater. What can I do? I check several times a day on egg day to make sure there are no sitting eggs, but this must have happened early this morning!

I threw the empty egg out and looked around for any signs of left overs but saw nothing...They get layer pellets, oyster shell and treats almost every day. Occasionally I take them a mashed, boiled egg.

Is there any chance that this was a one time fluke...or that it may have been accidental?!

What can I do?

 

[TubbyChicken]

I should have added that I *think* the egg eater is also the hen who isn't laying...and the egg wasn't in the nesting box. (the laying hen only sometimes chooses to use the nesting box and other times lays right on the floor.

 

[TubbyChicken]

Anyone?

 

[wyliefarms]

If we get an egg with a crack in it then hens go crazy over it. I haven't had hens intentionally break open an egg to egg the yolk and white.

I hope this helps.

 

[Carolyn]

I got really worried when my hens started laying. One day I found egg yolk on the other eggs and no sign of a shell. A day or 2 later I found a broken egg with part of the contents leaked out. They are laying regular now and I haven't had any more problems.

You could have an egg eater but you may just have a broken egg. Check their faces just like the kid with the jelly jar. There ought to be some evidence. Good luck