egg eating?

[bobshere]

Hi everyone. I have 5 red sex links one of which layed her first egg last saturday and today being thursday. After laying her first egg she hasnt layed one since. Is this normal? Im actually wondering if she is eating it now. She isnt even 17 weeks yet so would it be normal laying the first egg and then not laying another at that age? I dont see any evidence in the nest of a broken egg being in there. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

 

[Percheron chick]

Completely normal. Expect them to take 2-3 weeks to get into a normal laying pattern. If it's really HOT, that changes things too. They eat less, they have more stress so egg laying gets wonky. You will see evidence of egg eaters. If however they are being stolen by crows or magpies, you might find the smashed egg somewhere outside the coop (typically when they try to fit through the wire fence) or the shells under their nests.

 

[bobshere]

Ya I just found the evidence...now ill have to set up a camera to identify which one it is. More than likely its the laying hen right? Too bad cause she is such a perfect pet. Is there a chance she will stop or once an eater always an eater?

 

[Percheron chick]

I've never had an egg eater. It could be that the shell was deficient and broke when laid it. They will eat the egg if it breaks. Don't rush to judge. Many first eggs are problem eggs. I'd make sure there is extra Ca and some extra protein so see if that's the problem.

 

[krista74]

You could try popping some golf balls or plastic eggs into each nest box.

Sometimes that will help to discourage egg-eating and egg pecking.

The idea behind it is that the chickens will peck the plastic eggs/golf balls, realise that they can't eat them, and that deters them from pecking the real eggs.

Also, try to make sure your girls have something to keep them occupied. Let them free range as often as possible. If they can't go outside due to predators etc, try to provide other forms of entertainment within the coop - a cabbage pinnata, some frozen fruit to eat, or some posts and logs to stand on.

Boredom can lead to all kinds of naughty behaviour!

Good luck! Krista

 

[bobshere]

So you are saying i shouldnt cull her just yet? If she keeps it up you dont think all 5 will start eating it if they havnt already. My girls free range as often as i am home.

 

[Percheron chick]

You don't know who's eating the egg, you don't know if the egg was broken in the first place. Culling is a rather drastic measure at this point.

 

[bobshere]

Ok thanks for the advise. I will set up a camera and see what is going on...

 

[krista74]

No, culling is a last resort.

She may have just done it out of curiosity. It could have been an accident. Even more likely is that she laid a soft or weak shelled egg and it simply fell apart when it hit the nest.

Give her a chance to prove herself first. Successful egg laying is a process, and she may not even be laying every day yet.

Innocent until proven guilty!

Krista