egg eating??

[crystal94040]

I was out collecting the eggs with my kids and my son dropped one. I saw it had a nice big crack in it so instead of trying to clean it up with the 3rd arm I don't have I just smashed it figuring it would just mix in with the dirt and that would be that. After I brought the eggs inside I went back out to do a few more chores and saw all of my chickens hovered over the smashed egg enjoying it! They gobbled it right up.

Is that ok? First time chicken owner here

 

[Matt A NC]

My chickens will eat any egg that gets broke, but don't touch whole eggs. If I drop one and it breaks, the shell will be running through the yard in someone's beak with a flock chasing after. They love eggs.

Just make sure they have plenty of oyster shells and feed. The occasional broken egg is fine.

Matt
Morganton, NC

 

[crystal94040]

I've been feeding them "laying feed" do they still need oyster shells?

 

[Matt A NC]

Layer doesn't have the amount of calcium a laying hen will need for her eggs. Oyster shell should always be available as free choice to the hens. If their bodies get low on calcium they may start eating eggs that are in nests. Once they start that it is hard to make them stop.

Also, a lack of calcium can lead to egg binding, which can kill a hen.

Matt
Morganton, NC

 

[crystal94040]

ok, will pick up oyster shells ASAP, thanks for the advice.
I asked the feed store if they needed anything else besides laying feed and they said, "nope, it's all in the bag"