hen pecking eggs? along with other questions too?

[lilredchick]

Ive got 6 hens that are 3years old. I added a new hen last year. Within the last 2 weeks one of the hens is pecking 1 egg a day. She doesnt normally go all the way through,
she really just cracks the outer shell.

anybody got an idea as to why?

 

[Cindiloohoo]

Likely just dropping it when she lays it. I had that problem and I just added some more materials to the nest boxes and solved the problem altogether.

 

[feathersnuggles]

Provide crushed oyster shell, free-choice in a dish. It's not expensive; all feed stores carry it. Oyster shell will help make the eggshells hard enough so they don't crack easily. Also, put a wooden egg or a golf ball into each nestbox -- this also helps a hen learn to leave the eggs alone.

Hens often use their beaks to test a newly laid egg - to see if it has a good shell for hatching a chick. If the shell is weak, the egg would probably crack while the embryo is developing, killing the new chick and endangering the rest of the hatch. So, taping the egg with the beak helps ensure her reproductive success.

OTOH, some hens have developed a habit of breaking open even a hard-shell egg. So, gather your eggs often, make sure the hens have adequate levels of good-quality protein, calcium supplement (oyster shell), and plenty of fresh clean water always available.

 

[lilredchick]

thanks for the info. Im going to add some more bedding to the nest tomorrow. she just started doing this. Like I said she is 3 now, and has been laying for 3 seasons with no problems.
The only other addition Ive added was a Millie Flur rooster. He was added about a month ago. before that they have never been around a rooster.

The other thing I was wondering, is there a chance that a hen wont go broody? none of my hens have ever shown signs of being broody. They go in lay their egg and leave.
Even if one did go broody, I dont think Id have any fertile eggs though. but what are your thoughts?

 

[feathersnuggles]

Not all hens go broody. Many of these breeds have had their broodiness bred out. But individuals will be... individual. And a hen CAN go very broody - once, or many times. If they've never been broody, perhaps they never will be. What makes you say that their eggs are infertile? Since they are with a rooster, unless he is not mating with them, they probably have some fertility to their eggs. How much fertility is hard to say, tho.

 

[MareeZoCool]

I was goin kinda nuts wondering the same thing about my 1 year old Black Astralorp hen.

Seems I wasted too much time worrying Once our temps warmed, she decided to get busy getting broody. We now have 3 tiny new members to our home flock.

Guess my only advice is to be patient & let your hen & mother nature do their business.

BEST OF LUCK TO YOU!

 

[lilredchick]

Mine hens have never gone broody in the 3yrs Ive had them. I just recently added the rooster, before that I would see one of my hens acting like a rooster and I dont mean crowing either.

The rooster is a Mille Flure so its like a mouse on a Trex with my hens. not only that but the hens chase him away too. So I really dont think I have any fertile eggs.

I guess Im going to have to wait till some of the other roosters get alittle older.

By the way Ive added more bedding, but was I was out getting eggs, the one BA came in and tried to peck at the RIR's egg. The new hen I got last year that just started laying eggs this spring.
I dont know maybe its cause its her egg,

cause the BA goes after the RIR in the yard too.