Chickenlover720
Songster
So, I have seven hens ranging from 1.5-3.5 years old. I have never had any trouble with them eating eggs, but yesterday I went to let them out of their coop/run to free range for the day as I always do. I noticed there were two intact eggs in the run as well as two broken shells (empty of all contents) also in the run. They like to find places other than the nest boxes to lay but they rarely lay in the run. I noticed the shell remains were very thin and one was right next to their waterer so I assumed they had just been stepped on or broken somehow. (I discovered all this around 11 am) However, this morning I checked on them around 7 am and to my horror, they were running around fighting over a broken egg. They were carrying the mess of an egg around! This egg also had a paper-thin shell. I removed the egg and decided to feed and let them out earlier than usual so maybe they wouldn't get bored and lay their eggs in the run to eat. Unfortunately, I was leaving for class and couldn't monitor them further.
What are my options to prevent this behavior from worsening? I am planning on giving them oyster shell on the side to help provide them with an extra boost of calcium to strengthen the shells.
EDIT: I would like to add that if all possible, I'd rather not have to cull anybody. However, I suppose that if it becomes too much of a problem I may have to resort to that.
What are my options to prevent this behavior from worsening? I am planning on giving them oyster shell on the side to help provide them with an extra boost of calcium to strengthen the shells.
EDIT: I would like to add that if all possible, I'd rather not have to cull anybody. However, I suppose that if it becomes too much of a problem I may have to resort to that.