Her very first egg...and it looks like she pecked it! Anyone know why? Is this common?

[Kellyjean86]

 

[BigBlueHen53]

How many chickens do you have? Sometimes an egg will look like that from a chicken stepping on it and their sharp claws poking it. She might even have stepped on it herself, hard to tell. Anyway, congrats on your first egg! I know that's disappointing but at least it's a sign of good things to come. What kind of nesting material do you have in the nests?

 

[pnw_urban_chix]

Welcome to BYC! It could be a chicken stepping on it or the egg getting pecked...Although it seems pretty unlikely for a hen to become an egg-eater on her very first egg .

 

[Fluffy_Butt_Hutt]

Curious chickens peck at things. Chances are that since it's her first lay, the calcium was thin and easy to break. Does not look like she was intending to eat the egg, because I feed my chickens the exceptionally dirty eggs, and that egg would be eaten by now since it has a hole in it. If you aren't already providing extra choice calcium, do that!

 

[chrissynemetz]

Hi, and a belated welcome! From the photo it does look like the egg had a thin area around the pecked spot. What type of feed do you give them?

 

[Jenbirdee]

You can put out a side dish of crushed oyster shell , it is a calcium supplement that they can take as much as their body needs when they need it . It’s amazing how they know when their body needs it. It won’t hurt to have it out even if that’s not the problem.

 

[DobieLover]

Hello Kelly, and welcome to BYC! Glad you joined.
If that area of the egg had a thinner shell just stepping over the egg may have driven a nail through it. But I would err on the side of caution and assume that it was packed and gather eggs as frequently as you can in addition to making sure that you are offering them a complete feed that has between 18 and 20% protein. Keep treats to an absolute minimum with no more than 5% of their total daily intake being treats. Also offer one or 2 containers of oyster shell on the side for free choice feeding.

 

[muddy75]

 

[Bsmac]

Hello! Welcome to BYC! Some good advice has been given good luck!

 

[janiedoe]

Welcome to BYC, Kelly. I'd not worry about it if they are getting an appropriate diet. She was probably just confused by the new experience.