Egg Eating

[BonnieBlue]

One of my two hens was cranky and kicked her sister's egg out of the nest and went in to lay right after her. Problem is, it cracked open, and then they started pecking at it and eating it. I caught them really quick, because I happened to be watching on camera, and got out there to retrieve the egg and scoop up any spilled contents.

I am assuming I need to watch to make sure they didn't make much of a connection and start eating the eggs now? If Peony hadn't kicked the egg out, they would have never known. I don't know what possessed her to kick it out. I heard it hit the lip of the nesting box and get a hole, so I know they didn't break it open themselves.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Most chickens will eat broken eggs. I wouldn't worry unless you start seeing hens going in the nest and start breaking and eating them. It can help to have ceramic eggs in nests because they can't peck those, and they sometimes give up.

Make sure your hens are getting enough protein in their diet, so they don't go looking for extra protein. Daily minimum requirements are 16% which most layer rations are. They are formulated to be fed as tje sole ration. If you like feeding a few extras, and treats it's best to keep them at the minimum, and to feed a higher protein ration that is 18-20% protein. Personally I stopped feeding a layer as I had problems with egg eating and feather picking when I fed it long ago.

 

[WingItRanch]

I have 10 hens and 8 pullets. The pullets started going into the coop and kicking out bedding and cracking eggs. I found some empty egg shells so I know they ate it. The good news is I caught it early and sounds like you did, too. Here's what I did:

Added nesting pads instead of regular straw. It's harder for them to kick it out and so there's a soft landing place for eggs so preventative when it comes to cracking.

Added hard wooden eggs. The pullets would peck at the wooden eggs and hurt their beaks so they stopped.

Made sure I have plenty of oyster shell available so the eggs are nice and strong.

Good luck!!

Edited to add: I feed 20% protein All Flock feed instead of Layer and provide oyster shell on the side for calcium. I agree with @oldhenlikesdogs . Highly recommend!