Egg Eatting Chicken?

[cesco]

OK, experts I have a question. I have one laying hen, dont know how old she is or even what kind she is. She just showed up in my back yard, in town the day before my 15 cornich rock cross were deliveried 3 weeks ago. So I put her in a coop feed her and she is great. She was laying every other day of so, but the last week she is eatting every egg she lays. I have watched her peck till it broke and eat the whole thing. What am I doing wrong???

Ok I have one more question if you have the time...

I have 15 Cornish Rock Cross Chicks that are 3 weeks old today. Should I start feeding grit to them?? Do they need it??

Ok one more...

Should they be on food all the time (24 hrs.) or should I take away the food at night? I have read both ways?

Thanks all!!

cesco

 

[Judy]

I don't know a thing about Cornish Cross, but they are discussed at length on our meat birds forum, including various feeding schedules.

Your egg eating hen is a problem -- this habit is almost impossible to break. Perhaps a handful of golf balls in the nest to discourage her when she tries to peck them. No doubt the best solution is a rollaway nest, if she will use it.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=464610

 

[ScotianChick]

I have a RIR with pretty much a permanent calcium deficiency (I think she was born like that). She had to be trained not to eat her own eggs. It was hard work. I separated her, watched her lay her egg every morning. When she didn't peck it, she was rewarded with a treat and sent back outside with the others for free ranging. When she pecked it, I swatted her away or gave her a sharp "peck" with my hand. Chickens correct each others behaviour with a peck and that's what I did to BB. She had a relapse twice, I separated her both times and now she lays fine. Due to her issues she always lays weird eggs but I eat them and save the others for selling or giving away

(Yes, I do give my chickens oysters shells and BB sometimes gets crushed up Tums if her eggs are shell-less).