HEN BREAKING EGSS?

[newchickens2009]

GOOD MORNING. I WAS WONDERING IF THERE IS SOMETHING I CAN DO TO STOP MY HEN FROM BREAKING HER EGGS? SHE AS BEEN BROODY AND SITTING ON HER NEST OF EGGS FOR 7 DAYS NOW BUT FOR THE LAST 2 NIGHTS SHE HAS TAKEN AN EGG OUT OF THE NEST AND BROKEN IT. I HAVE HER IN A BROODY BOX BY HERSELF WITH PLENTY OF ROOM, WATER AND FOOD. ANY HELP WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED! THANK YOU

 

[Chickie Mamma]

Good Morning! Egg breaking is a BIG problem! I do not have any broodies, but I have tried everything. Some believe golf balls in the nest would help. Tried that and I found all the golf balls in the run every morning. I was ready to give them some clubs

Mine are finally stopping, maybe due to weather and being allowed out longer. Hang a broccoli crown in the pen and that helped me a little as far as them being bored. Grab the eggs as quickly as possible so they don't have a chance to break them. I am out there every hour just checking. Its harder for me because my girls are older and don't lay everyday anymore, so I never know when they will lay an egg. Good Luck!!

 

[GoldenSilverLaced]

i've written about my experiences with egg eating: https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=173726
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=174908&p=2

try giving them yogurt or some other high calcium/high protein food -- they may want more calcium/protein.

good luck!

 

[newchickens2009]

THANK YOU BOTH FOR YOUR HELP. I GREATLY APPRECIATE IT!

 

[GoldenSilverLaced]

no problem, let us know what happens!

 

[newchickens2009]

I CAN'T BELIEVE IT!! MY HEN HAS BROKEN AND EATTEN ANOTHER EGG!! AFTER 7 DAYS WITHOUT BREAKING ANY, NOW SHE HAS NOT JUST BROKEN ONE BUT ATE IT HAS WELL! SHE IS STILL SITTING ON 8 EGGS AND HAS ANOTHER 8 DAYS BEFORE THEY HATCH. SHOULD I TAKE THEM FROM HER AND PUT THEM IN AN INCUBATOR OR IS THERE SOMETHING ELSE THAT I CAN DO?

 

[chseeads]

Have the ones that she's been breaking been fertile and growing?

 

[newchickens2009]

THAT WAS EXACTLY WHAT I THOUGHT SHE MIGHT HAVE BEEN DOING ALSO, BREAKING THE UNFURITLE ONES. BUT HOW WOULD SHE KNOW THE DIFFERENCE? ARE CHICKENS THAT SMART? I WASN'T SURE ABOUT THE FIRST 2 BECAUSE SHE HAD ONLY BEEN SITTING ON THEM A FEW DAYS, BUT I CANDLED THEM ON FRIDAY NIGHT AND ALL WERE GROWING BESIDES 1 AND I THREW THAT 1 AWAY. WHEN I CHECKED TODAY THERE WERE STILL WHAT LOOKED LIKE VIENS AND SOME GROWTH STUCK TO THE INSIDE OF THE SHELL ON THE 1 I FOUND THIS AFTERNOON, SO YES THIS 1 WAS FERTILE.

 

[becky3086]

Ok, if they only have 8 days to go, you should have found more than that in the nest. Its possible that egg died sometime and after they die they tend to get old and weep sometimes or dry up inside and the shells get brittle. Your eggs with only 8 days to go should be nearly full looking inside.
It also could be that the first ones broke and she realized that when she was hungry or thirsty she could get a meal without having to leave the nest. Maybe move the food and water as close as possible to her.

 

[cmom]

A friend of mine used wooden eggs. I have heard of using golf balls too.