Help why are my chickens busting thier eggs???

[434lawson]

Help why are my chickens busting thier eggs??? I have done everything that i know of to keep them from busting thier eggs.

 

[Hangin Wit My Peeps]

Is it just a tiny crack on one end? If so then they are prob falling and hitting something hard. What I did was add cardboard (thicker piece) to fit the nest box and that worked. If they are cracking them with their beaks then I have no clue! But good luck and hope you can find a solution. Collect often also...that helps

 

[nanawendy]

Define bursting... They might need a wooden egg to focus on

 

[WoodlandWoman]

Do you need better padding under the nesting material? Maybe a larger nesting area? Different or more nesting material? Do you need to collect more often? Without any details from you, it's hard to say what the problem is. Can you tell us a little more? What is your set-up like and what have you tried?

Basically, eggs are either hitting each other or the base of the nest. Chickens can cause more of a problem kicking the nest material around, and the eggs, if they have an issue with that. An over full nest with too many uncollected eggs increases the likelihood that they'll be bumping into each other or being walked on, too. It's easier to avoid stepping on a couple of eggs than twenty eggs, to use an extreme example.

I just realized you might mean that your chickens are intentionally breaking and eating their eggs. I must need a second cup of coffee... Let us know if this is what you mean.

 

[kelidei]

I was having a big problem with this--- I put some padding in the nest boxes that they can't scratch out (plastic "grass" pads--- like astro turf--- easy to clean!) And then I put ceramic eggs and golf balls in all the nests--- it's like magic--- now maybe one or two a week are cracked or broken. I have a new problem though--- I have a broody GLW sitting on two golf balls!!!

 

[434lawson]

Quote:
Sorry about that but yes they are intentionally breaking them and eating them thats what i meant. Sorry I should have made it clear about what they were doing. But plz if you have ideas that could help me let me know thanks.

 

[rabtfarm]

Hi,
We have the same problem! We have 4 RI Reds 1 year old, and 4 bantams all about 2-3 years old, varying types, no roosters. They live together and mostly lay eggs quite well, but recently we have seen one of the reds eating the egg right after laying it. Now she's doing this right in the henhouse nest. Not sure what this is all about or whether the others will start doing the same thing. The 4 reds look alike so we cannot tell if it's the same hen.

 

[Festa X11]

If only one is doing it get it out and gone before it teaches the others to eat the eggs. There are people out and about who swear by different ways of stopping them eating but I only know of 2 that will stop it..... 1 cull the offender 2 modify the nest box so that the eggs will roll away as soon as they are laid.

 

[WoodlandWoman]

That's good advice.

What are you feeding them? Are they getting a well balanced, complete diet and enough protein? If you have multiple chickens doing it, I'd look at diet first, in case that contributed to egg eating becoming a habit. Creatures can develop cravings for foods that contain nutrients that are lacking in their diets.

Most chickens can eat an egg that is accidentally broken, without becoming egg eaters. Mine have only eaten a broken egg a couple of times over the years, when a pullet laid it in a high traffic area. Occasionally, chickens do become egg eaters. Once egg eating becomes a habit, it's pretty hard to break. As has been said, other chickens can pick up the habit, too, as part of flock behavior. If you are having a problem with multiple hens, I would definitely look at building roll away nests. At least you would only have to do that once and then you'd have the problem solved.

 

[rabtfarm]

Standard Agway egglayer crumble. They go free range during the day. We also will put some oyster shell grind into their feed. I did have 3 nest boxes for the 8 chickens which I just doubled as there are usually one or two broody bantams tying up one nest. The broody part comes and goes. 3 of the four bantams have been broody for a few days all at different times in the season. The only other observation is that we did keep a light on for warmth 24=7 throughout the winter...maybe that's mentally screwed them up a bit....