Hen Egg eater question

[Peter.J]

Hi, We moved into a new place a couple months ago and got a hen and rooster from the feed store for yard art (with a future flock in mind). The hen had real long nails (we trimmed them) and ate her own egg the first day we had her; so i’m Guessing she had been cooped up in a cage for some time...At that point she was just sleeping on a sawhorse in the carport and had only layed us 3 more eggs..
She has now been with us for a few months and no more eggs (allegedly). We now have 20 hens/pullets with her in a coop/run setup and still no eggs. I think the newer hens are getting adjusted to the new place/weather; but i also worry that since this one hen had eaten an egg once, is she still doing it?
Would i find egg shells or do they eat it all up?
I’m worried/paranoid she’s still eating eggs, and also don’t want her to pass on this trait to the new hens... Should i pull her from the flock or just wait and try to see if i can find any evidence?
Thanks for any tips

 

[Welshies]

If you seperate her within sight of the flock you can keep a watch on her. I'd do so immediately. Egg eating can spread in the flock and destroy one quickly.

 

[Peter.J]

Ok, she’s the only one i know has laid, 4 more hens just started laying before i got them last week and the rest are pullets...
So i’m Just not sure if she hasn’t laid again yet or if she’s just eaten them every day. Would i find egg shell remnants or would they be eaten too typically?

 

[Zoomie]

I think you would find remnants.

Go to the store (like, Tractor Supply or somewhere like that) and get some fake ceramic eggs. Be sure and mark them with a sharpie so you don't accidentally gather them for the real thing... When they peck on those they don't break, plus they are hard as a rock and no fun to peck. Pretty soon they give up. Plus, seeing the eggs (you could use golf balls, too) gives the girls the idea of what to do and where to do it. I leave mine in the nest box all the time. Although every now and then, I've forgotten, and had one eat an egg... I put them back in, she quits. This has worked well for me over the years. Good luck!

 

[junebuggena]

It's very normal for hens to not be producing any eggs this time of year. The short days of winter means not enough light exposure to trigger the hormones needed for egg production.
Egg eating usually indicates that there is inadequate protein intake. Layer feed has just barely enough protein in it, and it isn't always sufficient for every hen. Some breeds, in particular, need more than most layer feeds offer.

 

[Welshies]

It's very normal for hens to not be producing any eggs this time of year. The short days of winter means not enough light exposure to trigger the hormones needed for egg production.
Egg eating usually indicates that there is inadequate protein intake. Layer feed has just barely enough protein in it, and it isn't always sufficient for every hen. Some breeds, in particular, need more than most layer feeds offer.

You can provide protein through 16% or more layer feed.
Hens also peck shells because of a certain shortage (I forget of what). Providing oyster shell can solve this.

 

[junebuggena]

You can provide protein through 16% or more layer feed.
Hens also peck shells because of a certain shortage (I forget of what). Providing oyster shell can solve this.

16% is just barely enough. It isn't enough for a lot of dual-purpose breeds though, especially if other things like treats are given in addition to feed. And layer feed has more than enough calcium for egg production. If you've got egg eaters in a flock and they are on layer feed, it's not because of a calcium shortage.

 

[Welshies]

16% is just barely enough. It isn't enough for a lot of dual-purpose breeds though, especially if other things like treats are given in addition to feed. And layer feed has more than enough calcium for egg production. If you've got egg eaters in a flock and they are on layer feed, it's not because of a calcium shortage.

My birds are personally not on layer feed because I have a rooster, which can be harmed by layer feed. Non laying birds can be harmed by laying feed. Providing extra calcium is never a bad idea, either.
16% is the bare minimum. I would go no higher than 22%. Too much protein can be harmful.

 

[junebuggena]

It takes a consistent diet of over 30% protein content to cause health issues.

 

[Welshies]

It takes a consistent diet of over 30% protein content to cause health issues.

It can depend. Higher protein levels can negatively impact egg production. 20% or 18% is the ideal.