Egg eating?

[Georgeschicks]

Hi! I’m a newbie chicken owner and I have 6 chickens. Four of them are 29 weeks and 2 are 18 weeks. They have been laying for a while and this morning I found one egg broken. The yolk was everywhere and I think that the chickens ate it. Is their anyway to stop this behavior?
Thanks!

 

[ahs]

I would wait and keep an eye on it. If the egg was already broken perhaps they took advantage of the situation. My chickens will eat a broken egg, with slightly terrifying enthusiasm, but will not break an egg on their own to eat it.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Hi.

I agree with the other poster that it could have been a broken egg accident and you should wait and see. However, if you don't have any fake eggs in your nest I would get some. I like to leave fakes in there to take the occasional inquisitive peck especially when I have new layers learning the ropes.

 

[Fairview01]

I have four nest boxes and 14 hens. I collect anywhere between 0-2 eggs from 3 of the boxes and consistently collect no less than 6 from the 4th one which to me is identical to the other 3 bit has some obvious difference my eyes are blind to. Because of this occasionally I get broken eggs in that one when 2 or more of them fit into that homer bucket at the same time. Other than some sticky leaves that's the only evidence an egg broke. They clean everything thing up. Shell and all.

Unless it happens all the time, don't sweat it.

 

[Georgeschicks]

Hi.

I agree with the other poster that it could have been a broken egg accident and you should wait and see. However, if you don't have any fake eggs in your nest I would get some. I like to leave fakes in there to take the occasional inquisitive peck especially when I have new layers learning the ropes.

I have a few golf balls in each nesting box already, is that enough?

 

[Georgeschicks]

I have four nest boxes and 14 hens. I collect anywhere between 0-2 eggs from 3 of the boxes and consistently collect no less than 6 from the 4th one which to me is identical to the other 3 bit has some obvious difference my eyes are blind to. Because of this occasionally I get broken eggs in that one when 2 or more of them fit into that homer bucket at the same time. Other than some sticky leaves that's the only evidence an egg broke. They clean everything thing up. Shell and all.

Unless it happens all the time, don't sweat it.

Thank you! My chickens are the same, they only use one new sting box and when they were smaller they all squished into it to sleep.

 

[bluebird]

Usually when chickens get a taste for raw egg they will be very adamant on getting more. Often times, they will break their own eggs to get more... keep an eye out on them

 

[lomine]

I have 8 different nest box options (some on ground for ducks) and I typically find eggs in just two or three. Sometimes they all decide to change and I'll start to find them in a different box. Chickens are weird like that.

I started finding a couple more broken eggs when the young pullets and cockerels discovered they could jump up to the nest boxes. I found them just sitting in there so I think they were just accidentally cracking them. I also found quit a few with holes poked on just one end but the egg wasn't completely broken or eaten at all. Figured those were from curiosity pecks. Honestly, I would rather they eat the egg is its broken then have to clean up the gooey mess. If you keep finding broken eggs daily I would worry and try to fix it but otherwise I wouldn't.

 

[aart]

The yolk was everywhere and I think that the chickens ate it. Is their anyway to stop this behavior?

Was the shell thin?
New layers?
Was the egg in a nest of on the floor/ground?
An easily broken egg is fair game for eating....
....it will not necessarily lead to egg eating as long as they are getting good nutrition.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Usually when chickens get a taste for raw egg they will be very adamant on getting more. Often times, they will break their own eggs to get more... keep an eye out on them

I'm sure it's easy for that to happen... but with a flock of 60+ birds, I had a couple eggs broken and eaten here and there. Even had a broody score one and had her chicks feasting. But with standard making sure no one was standing around the lay boxes who shouldn't be (especially juveniles) the fake eggs, and regular (I mean several times per day) collecting of the fresh laid eggs, and YES adequate nutrition (formulated ration, not diminished by treats), I never had a problem develop... yet. And I would work to identify and cull any habitual offender. (assuming it wasn't soft or brittle eggs causing the issue)

I do get the occasional poke hole. That might be a peck but I think it could also be a toenail hole. I do agree it's always good to keep an eye out.